Monthly Recap: Teen Homicides Increase in October

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 27, 2018
Featured | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Throughout the last three months, the District has seen an uptick in teenage homicide victims. According to D.C. Witness data, during the month of August there were no teenage homicides, in September there was one in Southeast DC and in October there were three: two in Southeast DC and one in Northeast DC.

During the month of October, there was a total of 23 homicides: two stabbings, four vehicular homicides and 17 fatal shootings. The Metropolitan Police Department made arrests in three shootings, both stabbings and one vehicular homicide.

Ramona Williamson

On Oct. 2, Ramona Williamson was fatally struck on the 5500 block of Central Avenue, SE. Williamson, 49, was pronounced dead on the scene.

On Oct. 5, Walter Leon Baylor, 32, was found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 300 block of 15th Street, NE. Later that day, Rodney Kinard was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection to Baylor’s death. 

On March 20, 2019, Kinard, 25, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed. He has to serve at least five years in prison before he can be considered for parole. Also, after his sentence, Kinard is required to serve five years on supervised release. 

Marquis Jones

Minutes into Oct. 6, police found 26-year-old Marquis Jones on the 2000 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. On Nov. 14, police arrested and charged Tondrick Murphy with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Jones’ death. Murphy, 26, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 29.

Avery Anderson

 Avery Anderson was also found Oct. 6 suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4600 block of Benning Road, SE. Anderson, 21, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Jean-Claude Jackson

On Oct. 7, police found 30-year-old Jean-Claude Jackson suffering from multiple stab wounds on the 1300 block of Good Hope Road, SE. Dazmine Anderson was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed in connection to Jackson’s death. Anderson, 16, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 30.

Robert Merritt

On Oct. 9, police located a man and a woman suffering from multiple gunshot wounds 1600 block of Montana Avenue, NE. Both individuals were brought to a nearby hospital, where the male, 26-year-old Robert Merritt, succumbed to his injuries. The woman was admitted in critical but stable condition.

Curtis Barnum

Later that day, police found 53-year-old Curtis Barnum suffering from a fatal stab wound on the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE. The following day, Antione Little was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection to Barnum’s death. Little, 42, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 20.

Roderick Thomas

On Oct. 11, 27-year-old Roderick Thomas was found inside a vehicle, on the 3200 block of 12th  Street, SE, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Police arrested and charged 18-year-old DeAndre Houston with first-degree murder while armed in connection to Thomas’s death. Houston is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 11, 2019.

Thomas is the first of four people who were found fatally shot inside a vehicle in October.

Carol Joan Tomason

On Oct. 12, 70-year-old Carol Joan Tomason was crossing the street at the intersection of 15th and H Streets, NW when she was fatally struck by a 2016 Chevrolet Pick-Up Truck. 

Ferdinand Fotachwi

Three days later, police found Ferdinand Fotachwi, 28, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in a vehicle on the 5300 block of D Street, SE. Fotachwi was pronounced dead on the scene.

Ezequiel Fernando Jimenez Pinto

On Oct. 16, Ezequiel Fernando Jimenez Pinto was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 1300 block of D Street, NE. 

Nearly six hours later, a motorcycle and a Toyota 4Runner collided in the intersection of 16th Street and Good Hope Road, SE. Both drivers were brought to a nearby hospital, where Marcellus Delmar Rooths, the operator of the motorcycle, would ultimately succumb to his injuries. Police did not arrest the driver of the Toyota. 

Rubelio Gomez Cervantes

Later that same day, police found 40-year-old Rubelio Gomez Cervantes on the 900 block of Eastern Avenue, NE suffering from a gunshot wound.

On Oct. 19, a Mercury Grand Marquis sped down South Capitol Street, SW and struck multiple cars stopped at a red light before striking a traffic pole and catching on fire. DC Fire and EMS arrived and pronounced the passenger, 32-year-old Kevin Thomas, dead. The driver, Rodney Bell, was brought to an area hospital; however, he was arrested and charged with second-degree murder and possession of PCP.

Malik McCloud

Bell is being held at the DC Jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Nov. 30. 

On Oct. 20, police found 19-year-old Malik McCloud suffering from a gunshot wound on the 3500 block of Wheeler Road, SE. McCloud is the first of three 19-year-old males to be fatally shot in the District during the month of October. 

Antonio Dixon

Nearly two hours later, police found 19-year-old Antonio Dixon suffering from a gunshot wound on the 900 block of 5th Street, SE. Dixon was pronounced dead on the scene.

On Oct. 21, police located Marc Anthony Bolden, 28, inside a vehicle, on the unit block of New York Avenue, NW, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Roger Marmet

Three days later, Roger Marmet, 22, was found inside a vehicle, on the 1200 block of 17th Street, NE, suffering from a gunshot wound.

On Oct. 27, police found 19-year-old Trayvon Wood suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4400 block of Douglas Street, NE.

Terrance Johnson

On Oct. 30, Terrance Johnson was found suffering from a gunshot wound on the 5000 block of Fitch Place, NE. Johnson, 26, was pronounced dead on the scene.

Taquan Smith

Later that day, 25-year-old Taquan Smith was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the 4800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

Kevin Jackson

On Oct. 31, Kevin Jackson, 29, was found on the 100 block of Mississippi Avenue, SE suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

Later that same day, police found 34-year-old James Eric Ferrell suffering from multiple gunshot wounds outside of Union Station on the Unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE. In early November, police released the image of a person of interest in the case.

James Eric Ferrell

As of Nov. 27, police have not made any arrests for the homicides of Williamson, Anderson, Merritt, Tomason, Fotachwi, Pinto, Rooths, Cervantes, McCloud, Dixon, Bolden, Marmet, Wood, Johnson, Smith, Jackson and Ferrell. 

Follow D.C. Witness for updates on all of these cases.