Data Shows Christmas As Only Homicide-free Holiday in DC

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 29, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Infographics |

D.C. Witness data uncovered a bit of Christmas cheer within a dark trend throughout the city. According to D.C. Witness data, there has been at least two homicides on major holidays, except the religious holiday.

From 2015-2019 homicides have occurred on all major American holidays, including Thanksgiving, Halloween, Fourth of July, Labor Day, New Years Eve, New Years Day and Easter.

Most of the homicides recorded on a major holidays occurred on Independence Day, July 4. Independence Day has had more homicides than all other holidays with five occurring since 2015.  

Halloween is the second holiday with the highest murder toll in DC with four murders since 2015. 

There have been four homicides on Thanksgiving since 2015, including two homicides that occurred in 2019. 

D.C. Witness reported that Tyree Pugh, who was a 25-year-old man, was fatally shot on Nov. 28, 2019, on the 1700 block of Trenton Place, SE. Police have not arrested any suspects in Pugh’s case.

Michael Andre Francis was fatally shot earlier that day on the Unit block of Danbury Street, SW. The incidents were unrelated. 

Police arrested Michael Fahnbulleh, a resident from Gaithersburg, Md., for allegedly shooting the 28-year-old man.. Fahnbulleh, 26, is charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 7.

New Year’s Day and Easter holidays have had three homicides, each since 2015.

Labor day has recorded only two murders within the same timespan. 

However, there has not been any instances of homicides on Christmas day. 

Dec.  25 remains the one major holiday in which no homicide has been recorded. 

D.C. Witness has covered nearly 800 homicides in DC since 2015.

Ellery Groth contributed to this article.