Homicides Continue to Climb in July

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 7, 2019
Featured | Homicides | Infographics | Suspects | Victims |

Homicides are getting worse compared to the last few Summer months.

There were 19 homicides in July, which is 19 percent above the 16 homicides that occurred in June and more than 100 percent above the nine homicides that occurred in May.

July’s homicide number reflects the total amount of homicides in April.

Almost all of the homicides that occurred in July resulted from gun violence, except for one trauma-related death in Ward 8 on July 29.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrested Michael Anthony Grant on the same day for allegedly assaulting Lucas Alonzo Thomas on the 3100 block of Randle Place, SE on July 28. Thomas, 33, died at a hospital the next day.

According to court documents, Grant, 34, told police that he hit Thomas in self defense. Grant said Thomas, who was allegedly drunk at the time, hit him first, egging on a fight.

“Throw your sh** up. Your hands,” Grant told the police Thomas said. Grant said Thomas yelled the words at him while in a fighting stance.

Apparently, Grant knocked Thomas out with one blow. However, while Thomas was still on the ground, Grant hit him again. He told the police that he didn’t think it mattered how many times he hit the victim since the victim struck him first, according to court documents.

Court documents say that Thomas suffered from multiple fractures to the jaw and multiple brain hemorrhages. A medical examiner with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia said Thomas’ injuries were caused by multiple strikes.

The event was not only recorded by Grant after Thomas fell, but also recorded by other witnesses.

According to DC Courts, Grant is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 13. He is being held without bail.

The ward with the most homicides was Ward 8 with 10 homicides. In July, Wards 2, 3, and 4 did not have any homicides.

Demetria Tymus contributed to this article.