May Homicides Double Since Last Month

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According to D.C. Witness data, the number of homicide incidents more than doubled from nine in April to 20 in May, accounting for 27 total victims.

As of June 6, of the 20 incidents, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has identified two suspects.

According to MPD documents, Elias Rodriguez, 30, is charged with federal and local murder offenses for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Sarah Milgrim, 26, and Yaron Lischinsky, 30 – two Israeli Embassy staff members, outside the Capital Jewish Museum on May 21 on the 500 block of 3rd Street, NE.

The second identified suspect, Mercury Ford, 20, is currently wanted on a DC Superior Court arrest warrant for first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Tequila Parker on May 27 on the 2300 block of Pitts Place, SE.

MPD has not identified suspects for the remaining 18 homicide incidents.

According to MPD, one incident was an unintentional child gun death. MPD officers found a 14-year-old girl who suffered from a fatal gunshot wound on May 21 on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE. Preliminary investigation by MPD indicated the girl was handling the firearm while filming a video for social media and accidentally shot herself. MPD has not identified the girl.

A stray bullet killed 59-year-old Jose Carcamo on May 25 while he was inside his apartment on the 1500 block of Ogden Street, NW. MPD determined Carcamo was not targeted, but struck by a bullet that entered through his window from a shooting that occurred in an alley behind his apartment.

At the DC Jail, located on the 1900 block of D Street, SE, on May 1, 29-year-old Carlos Shelley was fatally stabbed. Shelly was incarcerated for his alleged involvement in a domestic violence non-fatal shooting of his ex-girlfriend in addition to a separate unarmed carjacking incident.

Kian-Wayne Magruder, 31, was fatally shot on May 20 on the 800 block of 26th Road, NE. According to a MPD news conference, three men exited a car and shot Magruder who was walking down the street. The homicide occurred around 2:00 p. m. near Spingarn High School while a track meet was being held for elementary school students. MPD said the suspect’s vehicle fled the scene and was later found burned in the Fort Lincoln neighborhood in Northeast DC.

MPD is currently offering a reward for information on the unsolved cases.