Monthly Recap: August Murders Still Unsolved

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 12, 2018
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Throughout the month of August, the District of Columbia endured eight homicides, nearly a 60 percent decrease from July. However, there have been no  arrests or persons of interest in connection to any of them, as of Sept. 10.

The first homicide of the month started a week after August began.

On Aug. 8, Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 4400 block of Livingston Road, SE to investigate reports of gunfire. Officers arrived at an area hospital where Denard Orlando Hartwell was being treated for an apparent gunshot wound in connection to the Livingston Road shooting. Hartwell, 44,  succumbed to his injuries.

Kayvon Herder

Nearly a week later, on Aug. 14, police arrived on the 6200 block of Dix Street, NE and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. The duo was brought to a nearby hospital, where 25-year-old Kayvon Herder succumbed to his injuries. The other male, who has not been identified, sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Franklin Byers

On Aug. 18, police found Franklin Byers, 35, suffering from a stab wound on the 500 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE.

A day later, police found 35-year-old Keith Douglas on the 3900 block of Southern Avenue, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Keith Douglas

Douglas is one of four decedents to be killed in the Southeast quadrant in August. An additional three homicides took place in Northeast DC and the remaining homicide took place in Northwest DC.

On Aug. 23, police found Travis Barksdale, 25, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 600 block of Evarts Street, NE.

Three days later, police found Piera Sterling Barbour suffering from a gunshot wound on the 600 block of 46th Place, SE. Barbour, 28, was pronounced dead on the scene.

A day later, less than an hour into Aug. 27, police found 36-year-old Tony Lamont Payne, Jr., suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE.

Approximately 30 minutes later, police found two males suffering from gunshot wounds on the 1900 block of 9th Street, NW. Both men were brought to a nearby hospital where 22-year-old Phillip Dumbuya was subsequently pronounced dead. The second victim sustained non-life threatening injuries.

Dumbuya was the youngest victim of the month.

August Led to Multiple Homicide Arrests

While no arrests have been made in connection to August homicides, eight arrests were made in relation to previous homicides.

On Aug. 3, MPD arrested and charged Dearren Robert Dawkins, 21, with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the shooting death of 43-year-old Larry Harrell on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE in June.  Titus Iracks, 16, was also arrested for Harrell’s murder in June.

On Aug. 8, the police arrested and charged Mark Price, 23, with first-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of 47-year-old Andre Young on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE in July.

On Aug. 21, officers arrested Kevin Carter, 30, with premeditated first-degree murder for the death of 33-year-old Yusef Turner on the 3500 block of Georgia Avenue, NW in April. Keith Sweptson, 30, who is also charged with premeditated first-degree murder in connection to Turner’s death, was arrested in April.

A day later, on Aug. 22, the police arrested and charged Marcel Vines, 22, with first-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of 23-year-old Kerrice Lewis on the 800 block of Adrian Street, SE in 2017.

Six days later, on Aug. 28, police arrested and charged Malique Lewis, 20, with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in Kerrice’s death. Ashton Briscoe, 24, who is also charged with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Kerrice’s murder, was arrested in February.

On Aug. 25, Qujuan Thomas, 20, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson on the 300 block of 53rd Street, NE in July.

Two days later, police arrested and charged Quentin Michals, 21, with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in Wilson’s death.

The same day, Aug. 27, Cedric Alexander, 47, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the shooting death of 38-year-old Daquan Hooks on the 1900 block of 13th Street, SE in 2017.

Police Release Identities of Skeletal Remains

During a press conference Aug. 15, MPD Police Chief Peter Newsham announced the names of the three skeletal remains that were found on the 100 block of Wayne Place, SE in April.

The three women were identified as 48-year-old Jewel King, who was fatally shot; 41-year-old Verdell Jefferson, whose cause of death was deemed blunt force trauma and 43-year-old Dorothy Butts, who was also fatally shot.

MPD is offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects involved in this case.