According to D.C. Witness data, there were three reported homicide incidents and four victims in January – one of the victims was originally injured in December, but died in January. Two of these incidents were vehicular deaths, and the third was a shooting.
As of Feb. 5, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has identified one suspect among the three incidents.
Santana Matthews, 20, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a vehicular homicide on Jan. 7 on the 1100 block of 16th Street, NW, which resulted in the death of 26-year-old Aaron Williams.
According to court documents, Matthews was reportedly driving at a high speed when he struck another vehicle, then ricocheted and hit Williams, who was walking across the street. Matthews is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 27.
Additionally, on Jan. 7, 32-year-old MPD Officer Terry Bennett succumbed to his injuries, following an incident on Dec. 23, 2025 on the eastbound lanes of I-695 where he was struck by a high-speed vehicle. Jerrold Coates, 47, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in Officer Bennett’s death and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 10.
MPD has not identified a suspect for the other vehicular death or fatal shooting reported in January. William Gardner, 60, was struck and killed by a black 2000 Chevy Silverado while walking in the roadway on Jan. 3 in the northbound lanes of DC-295.
The first fatal shooting of the year resulted in the death of 18-year-old Malik Moore on Jan. 21 on the 1300 block of Varnum Street, NE.
MPD is currently offering a reward for information on the unsolved cases.
