D.C. Sees Lowest Homicide Rate in 2021

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 8, 2021
Daily Stories | Featured | Homicides | Shooting | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

November had the lowest homicide count in 2021, with only ten in total, according to D.C. Witness data.

One homicide victim recently had a homicide case of his own dismissed in the DC Superior Court. Antonio Deshaun Gladden was previously charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 36-year-old Marcus Wallace on the 1400 block of L Street, SE, near the Navy Yard on Nov. 21, 2020. Less than a year later, the 22-year-old’s charges were dismissed and he was released from DC Jail.

On Nov. 26, Gladden was shot and killed on the 2300 block of 25th Street, SE.

Gladden was one of the seven people killed in a shooting in November. Three others were stabbed to death including Chanea McLaughlin, the only woman killed in November.

On the afternoon of Nov. 12, officers were flagged down to the Unit Block of Florida Avenue, NW, due to a reported assault. They found 35-year-old McLaughlin suffering from stab wounds and transported her to a local hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries, according to the press release. An arrest has not been made in relation to her death.

November saw six arrests in relation to homicides. MPD Police Chief Robert J. Contee III held a press conference for one of them on the eve of Thanksgiving.

Chief Contee announced on Nov. 24 that 25-year-old Dearay Anthony Wilson had recently been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in relation to the shooting of 53-year-old Peace Corps Executive Jeremy Black. Black was leaving a restaurant with his wife and their friends on the 1400 block of R Street, NW, on June 29 when he got caught up in gunfire. Wilson and other individuals were engaging in ” reckless behavior” while shooting on the street, Chief Contee said. They are still looking for additional suspects.

An arrest was made in a homicide case that has been open for nearly two years. On Nov. 15, 24-year-old Robert Hunter was charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing 26-year-old Andre Carroll on Dec. 26, 2019, in the 1800 block of Corocan Street, NE.

The average age of homicide victims in November was 36, which is well above the yearly average of 33.

Ward 8 had the most homicides, with four in total. Wards 7and 5 tied for second with two homicides each. Wards 1 and 6 both had one homicide each. All other wards did not have any homicides.