Homicides Up 100+ Percent in September

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August reflected a low number of homicides in the District of Columbia, suggesting that maybe the Metropolitan Police Department finally initiated a homicide prevention solution that worked. But, the sense of security was short-lived as September more than doubled the number of murders in August.

According to D.C. Witness data, there was a 125 percent increase in homicides from eight in August to 18 in September.

September’s deadly trend also included a deadly transition to fall with six people murdered during the weekend summer ended.

The most profiled homicide cases of the month, included Wendy Karina Martinez, a 35-year-old woman who was fatally stabbed Sept. 18 when she went for a jog around her Logan Circle neighborhood in Northwest DC. Police arrested 23-year-old Anthony Crawford the next day and charged him with second-degree murder while armed. Crawford, who is currently in custody at DC Jail, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 11.

Another highly profiled case was of Taquan Pinkney, an 18-year-old who was shot to death on Sept. 9 in the Buena Vista neighborhood in Southeast DC. Police arrested Oct. 1 Elijah Jarmon, 17. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 19.

Other cases included the deaths of 42-year-old William Hayworth; Wilbert Brooks, 27; Kaquan Young, 27; and 13 other individuals.

Altogether, D.C. Witness data shows that police arrested suspects in connection with four homicide cases in September.

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