According to D.C. Witness data, there were 17 reported homicides in July, each claiming one victim. This is approximately a 42 percent increase from the previous month when there were 12 reported homicides.
As of Aug. 5, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has identified four suspects allegedly involved in three of the offenses. Two suspects are co-defendants.
According to MPD, on July 11, officers found 27-year-old Aaron Brown Jr. with a gunshot wound in an alleyway on the 4000 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the scene and transported Brown to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Abdoulie Jawneh, 25, was arrested on July 23 and his co-defendant, 23-year-old Daniel Foxworth Jr. was arrested on July 24. Both were charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed for their alleged involvement in Brown’s death.
Jawneh and Foxworth are both scheduled to appear for their preliminary hearing on Aug. 12.
Among the 17 reported homicides, three were traffic fatalities, two with victims older than 60.
According to MPD, Michael Mills, 55, was arrested on July 5 at the scene of a crash and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, operating a vehicle while impaired, failure to stop and give right of way to pedestrians, and leaving after colliding.
The charges stem from Mills’ alleged involvement in the death of 79-year-old Virginia Voight at the intersection of 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW. Voight was traveling eastbound in a motorized electric mobility scooter when she was struck by a white 2016 Ford F-150 truck. Voight succumbed to her injuries on July 12.
MPD is also investigating the death of 63-year-old Ricky Marshall, who was also struck on July 5 by an unknown vehicle on the 1200 block of Sumner Road, SE before the suspect fled the scene.
In July, gun violence compromised the largest number of reported homicides, with 12 fatal shooting victims.
According to MPD, 13-year-old Ahmad Mims was found fatally shot on a sidewalk on the 1600 block of Rosedale Street, NE on July 11. Investigators determined the shooting occurred inside a home on the block.
MPD is also investigating the death of 32-year-old Marquis Turner, who was shot and killed on the 800 block of 6th Street, NW on July 8. MPD officers transported Turner and another victim who was shot to a local hospital. Later, police learned a third victim sustained injuries in the shooting. No suspects have been identified.
Necho Taylor, 35, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the death of 34-year-old Joshua Foxworth. According to court documents, Foxworth was found dead in a bathtub on July 8 on the 800 block of Barnaby Street, SE. Foxworth sustained puncture wounds to the left side of his body and died from blunt force trauma to his face.
Taylor is scheduled to appear in court again on Aug. 13.
MPD is offering rewards for information about the unsolved cases.
