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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- May 17, 2019
Featured
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Victims
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Throughout the month of April, the District saw a substantial uptick in homicides, a 111 percent increase. The increase reflects the same amount of homicides that occurred in January despite a two month decrease in February and March.
According to D.C. Witness data, DC started the New Year with 19 homicides. However, there was a lull in February with 10 homicides, and March, when there was an even further decrease with eight homicides. However, by the end of April, the city was back at the 19 homicides marker it accrued in January.
As previously reported, the April homicides included: ten gun-related deaths, five stabbings, two vehicular homicides, one trauma-related death and an assault. In addition to the 19 homicides, the District also saw three traffic fatalities.
Rodney Gordon
On April 1, police found 44-year-old Rodney Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound on the 3300 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.
Later that same day, Maurice Wheeler was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE.
Jobe McDowney
Three days later, on April 4, police found two men
Desimon Richardson
suffering from gunshot wounds on a stairwell inside a residence on the 4900 block of Nash Street, NE. Jobe McDowney, 23, and Desimon Richardson, 21, were pronounced dead on the scene.
On April 5, 49-year-old Edwin Richardson was found
Edwin Richardson
suffering from a stab wound on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE.
Police arrested Keith Anthony Johnson and Kevon Pinkett are charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Richardson’s death. Johnson, 26, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 4. Pinkett, 18, is awaiting a presentment. According to DC Courts, Pinkett’s presentment has been continued six times because he is in the hospital.
On April 5, a driver of a 2015 Kia Optima was driving the wrong way on Interstate 295 and struck another car. In an attempt to avoid the crash the driver of a Chevrolet Suburbia lost control of the car and struck a concrete barrier.
The drivers of the Kia and Chevrolet, 36-year-old Lance Antonio Way and 53-year-old Audrey Wimbish, were killed in the process. No arrests have been made in connection to the traffic fatalities.
Melvin Quick
On April 7, Melvin Edward Quick, 33, succumbed to his injuries in connection to an assault on April 5 on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner deemed that Quick’s death was caused complications from blunt force trauma.
Montray Brown
That same day police found Montray Brown on the 2400 block of Wagner Street, SE. Brown, 28, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Curtis Leon Harrison
On April 8, 62-year-old Curtis Leon Harrison was found unconscious and unresponsive on the 3400 block of Benning Road, NE.
On April 9, police found 62-year-old Arnold Smith on the 600 block of Galveston Place, SE.
Later that same day, police arrested Smith’s brother, 60-year-old Joseph Smith, and charged him with voluntary manslaughter while armed.
Joseph is scheduled for a felony status conference on July 16.
On April 13, 46-year-old Chester Belfield was found suffering from multiple stab wounds on the 1000 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
Police arrested and charged David Allen Hackney with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Belfield’s death. Hackney, 58, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 10.
Antwan Hucks
On April 15, police found Antawn Hucks suffering from an apparent gunshot wound on the 2400 block of Pomeroy Road, SE. Hucks, 31, was pronounced dead on the scene.
Barry Holmes
Three days later, on April 18, 57-year-old Barry Holmes was found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 5100 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
Police arrested and charged Terrance Barnes with premeditated first-degree murder while armed in connection to Holmes’ death. Barnes, 29, is scheduled for a felony status conference on July 19.
On April 19, police found David Salovesh unconscious and suffering from injuries stemming from a car crash. According to a press release,, Salovesh, 54, was riding his bicycle down the intersection of 12th Street and Florida Avenue, NE when the driver of a stolen car crashed into another car, striking Salovesh before crashing into a tree.
Police arrested and charged Robert Earl Little, Jr. with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Salovesh’s death. Little, 25, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on June 4.
Breon Austin
Later that same day, 16-year-old Breon Austin suffering from gunshot wounds on the 700 block of Princeton Place, NW.
Police have identified a vehicle of interest in Austin’s case. According to a press release, the vehicle is a gray four door sedan with stickers on the driver’s side of the car.
Vehicle of Interest
On April 20, the driver of an Infinity sped down the 4000 block of East Capitol Street, NE. Apparently, the driver lost control of the car and hit a tree, resulting in the car being engulfed in flames.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the decedent has yet to be identified, as of May 16. No other arrests have been made in the case.
The next day, on April 21, police found Abdul Seck suffering from injuries stemming from being struck by a car. According to a press release, a 2012 Chevrolet Cruz was speeding and hit another car. Apparently, the car tried to redirect and ended up striking Seck, who was walking in the cross walk at the intersection of 16th Street and V Street, SE.
Later that same day, police arrested and charged Dejuan Andre Marshall, the driver of the 2012 Chevrolet Cruz, with second-degree murder while armed. Marshall, 21, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 23.
On April 22, 24-year-old Deandre Hawkins was found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 5300 block of E Street, SE.
Nearly three weeks later, on May 15, police arrested and charged Keonte Johnson with first-degree murder while armed. Johnson, 20, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on May 31.
On April 27, police found an unidentified male suffering from multiple sharp force injuries on the 5200 block of Canal Road, NW. The male was pronounced dead on the scene.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, as of May 16, the victim remains unidentified.
A day later, on April 28, police found 40-year-old Jamal Ferrell suffering from multiple stab wounds on the 700 block of 14th Street, SE.
According to a press release, there’s a warrant out for the arrest of Jada Jena Smith, 18, and Xavier Dontrell Culbreth, 18, in connection to Ferrell’s death.
On April 30, Devante Moody was found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 4400 block of G Street, SE.