Monthly Recap: Gun-Related Deaths Remain the Majority

By D.C. Witness Staff - December 21, 2018
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

While the District of Columbia saw a decrease in the number of homicides throughout November, the common thread, among the past three months, remains that the majority of homicides in tWashington, DC are gun-related.

In September, the District tallied 22 homicides and of that number 15 were the result of gun violence. Of the 23 homicides that took place in October, 17 were gun-related. And of the 11 homicides that occurred in November, nine were the result of gun violence while the remaining two were a stabbing and a trauma-related case. As of Dec. 21, police have arrested suspects in five of the homicides. 

Nazir Ahmad

On Nov. 3, Metropolitan Police Department officers found 68-year-old Nazir Ahmad suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 900 block of Brentwood Road, NE. Police arrested and charged Demetrius Pierce with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in Ahmad’s death, which police say was a burglary gone wrong.  Pierce, 32, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 11, 2019.

Dewayne Weaver

Two days later, Dewayne Weaver was found fatally shot on the 300 block of 50th Street, NE. Weaver, 26, was pronounced dead on the scene. Police have not arrested any suspects in the case. 

Gibril Turner

On Nov. 6, police found 22-year-old Gibril Turner suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 3900 block of Southern Avenue, SE. Turner was pronounced dead on the scene. Police have not arrested any suspects in the case. 

A day later, officers responded to the Unit block of Ga lveston Place, SW

Eugene Johnson

 and found two men suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Eugene Johnson, 37, was pronounced dead on the scene. The other victim was brought to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Police have not arrested any suspects in the case. 

Jelani Mohammed

On Nov. 8, Jelani Mohammed, 38,  was found on the 1500 block of Benning Rod, NE suffering from a fatal stab wound. Police arrested and charged Dale Thomas and Donnell Mills with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Mohammed’s death. Mills, 29, and Thomas, 28, are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 17, 2019.

Javon Smith

On Nov. 15, police found 26-year-old Javon Smith suffering from an apparent gunshot wound on the 2100 block of 8th Street, NW. Police have not arrested any suspects in the case. 

Dwight Banks

Three days later, Dwight Banks was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the  800 block of Jefferson Street, NW. Police have not arrested any suspects in the case. 

Randall Francis

On Nov. 26, police responded to the 1800 block of Benning Road, NE and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. Randall Francis, 20, was pronounced dead on the scene. The other victim was brought to a nearby hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police arrested and charged Malik Morris with premeditated first-degree murder while armed in connection to Francis’ death. Morris, 20, is awaiting presentment.

Later that same day, police found Noe Alberto Gallardo Ponce, 22, unconscious and unresponsive in a row house on the 1600 block of New Jersey Avenue, NW.  William Alexander Marrouquin Gallardo, his cousin, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to his cousin’s death. Gallardo, 24, is scheduled for a felony status conference  March 8, 2019.

Samuel Lee Smith

On Nov. 28, police responded to an area hospital and located 23-year-old Samuel Lee Smith suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police say the shooting took place on the 100 block of Irvington Street, SW. Police have not arrested any suspects.

Nya Howard-Reynolds

The final homicide of the month occurred minutes before the start of December, when officers found 19-year-old Nya Howard-Reynolds suffering from a gunshot wound on the Unit Block of 57th Place, SE.

Police arrested and charged Robert Theodore Smith with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Howard- Reynolds death. Smith, 22, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 7, 2019.