Homicides and Non-Fatal Shootings Increase in January, Data Shows

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Overall, January 2023 saw a 36 percent increase from December 2022 in the number of total homicides and non-fatal shootings. However, in terms of the number of homicides alone, January saw nearly a 17 percent increase from December.

Mondays appeared to be the deadliest day of the week in DC in January with 10 of the 34 total homicides and non-fatal shootings in the district. There were 14 homicides and 30 non-fatal shootings.

According to D.C. Witness data, the victims of January’s incidents range in age from 6 years old to 56 years old.

In January, nine homicides resulted from shootings, three homicides resulted from stabbings and two homicides resulted from trauma. .

There was also one mass shooting, which left three victims injured and one dead. The shooting occurred on Jan. 3 on the 6200 block of Georgia Avenue, NW. Two adult male victims and one juvenile male victim sustained non-fatal injuries, and 33 year-old Benjie Byers was pronounced dead at the scene.

The suspect of the mass shooting remains unknown, as do many of the suspects involved in January’s incidents as of March 7. Out of the three fatal and non-fatal shootings in January, only six suspects have been apprehended.

One of these suspects is 31-year-old Tyriq Williams, who is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly murdering Terry Clark, 20, on Jan. 7 on the 1200 block of Half Street, SE.

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein, who presided over Williams’s case, found no evidence of self-defense and no explanation for the calm demeanor Williams portrayed after the shooting.

There was surveillance footage from the Navy Yard Metro Station, showing the moments leading up to the shooting and after. However, the detective on the case said there was no actual footage of the shooting or of Williams possessing a firearm.

The detective also stated there had been no forensic evidence connecting Williams to the crime.

Despite Williams having no prior criminal history and being a positive role model in the community, according to his attorney Kevin Mosley, DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun denied the defense’s home confinement request that was made on Jan. 31.

Williams remains in custody.

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