Monthly Recap: DC’s Homicides Continue to Grow

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 21, 2019
Court | Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

October continued Washington, DC’s all too common tale of loss and death. 

According to D.C. Witness data, 19 people have been killed by homicides during the month, three more than the number of homicides in September. There was also one traffic fatality in October. 

Fourteen males and one female lost their lives to gun violence during the Fall month. According to D.C. Witness data, the victims ranged in age from 15 years old to 36. Suspects were apprehended in three of the deaths and the Washington Metropolitan Police Department is searching for a suspect wanted in connection to a shooting in Northeast, DC.

Data also shows that three men were killed from stabbings and one woman was killed in a vehicular homicide.  The police have arrested suspects for five of the homicides as of Nov. 20.

Of the 15 gun-related homicides, the first in the month was 24-year-old Kevin Better. Better was fatally wounded by multiple gunshots on Oct. 8 on the 5200 block of Sheriff Road, NE. The next day 15-year-old Thomas Johnson was killed near his home on Oct. 9 on the 1300 block of Half Street, SE near Nationals Park. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds. 

According to Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham, Johnson was targeted. A suspect has not been apprehended even though police released a photo in early October. 

The third and fourth gun violence deaths in the District were 24-year-old Devon Miler and his caretaker 27-year-old Lekelefac Fonge. Miler suffered from autism. It seems that both men were killed in a robbery attempt on Oct. 9 on the1600 block of Rosedale Street,NE. 

Police arrested 27-year-old Davon Peyton in connection to the murders. Peyton is being charged with first-degree murder while armed. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 22. 

Thirty-six-year-old Marcus Williams was shot on Oct. 10 on the 1200 block of I Street, SE.  A suspect has not been apprehended in connection to Williams’ death. 

Jonathan Jones was shot on Oct. 11 on the 1900 block of 16th Street, SE. Lamar Hicks was charged with second-degree murder while armed. However, the charges were dismissed. 

On Oct. 12, 15-year-old Jaquar McNair was fatally stabbed on the 300 block of 1st Street, SE. The juvenile charged for the murder is set to go to trial on March 2, 2020.

Shaquille Simmons , 24, was shot on Oct. 12 on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE. Police have not apprehended a suspect in connection to Simmons’ death.    

The only woman who was shot and killed in October was Dilcia Rodriguez. Rodriguez, 32, was killed on Oct. 16 on the 700 block of Chesapeake Street, SE. Police have not apprehended a suspect in connection to her death. 

Other gun-related deaths in October, in which police have not apprehended any suspects, include 27-year-old Deron Leake, who died on Oct. 17 on the 4200 block of 6th Street, SE; 30-year-old Christopher Parks on Oct. 19 on the 2400 block of Hartford Street, SE; 23-year-old Juwaun Robert Smith on Oct. 22 on the 4400 block of Ponds Street, NE; 19-year-old Alvin Barnes on Oct. 23 on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE; Johnathan Mayrant, 28, on Oct. 26 on the 1700 block of R Street, SE and Aaron George, 22, on Oct. 26 on the 4200 block of East Capitol Street, NE.

Police are searching for Gregory Antwan Washington who is wanted in connection to the shooting death of Alie Labay on Oct. 24 on the 900 block of 21st Street, NE. 

Police arrested a 17-year-old juvenile for the one vehicular homicide that occurred in October.

 According to the police,15-year-old Amoni Richardson was struck and killed while crossing the street located on the 3900 block of East Capitol Street, SE. The juvenile who struck Richardson is being charged with second-degree murder. The juvenile is scheduled for a status hearing on Nov. 22. 

In addition to the gun-related a vehicular homicides, there was also two stabbing that occurred toward the end of the month.

Shevon Ronford Turner and Arthur Randolph, died from stabbings on Oct. 28.The police have not apprehended any suspects in connection to their murders. 

The wards with most homicides in October were Wards 6 and 8, according to D.C. Witness data. 

There was also one traffic fatality in October.

On Oct. 2, Oliver Romain, a resident of Highland, Md., died in a crash involving a SUV and a motorcycle at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Kansas Avenue, NW on Oct. 2. 

According to a press release, during the morning commute, a motorcycle traveling on Kansas Avenue, NW and struck the front passenger door of a Nissan Rogue.  The rider on the motorcycle was ejected. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Rogue sustained non-life threatening injuries.