Shooting Trend Continues in DC

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 17, 2020
Featured | Homicides | Infographics | Suspects | Victims |

For another month, shootings have accounted for more homicides in DC than any other crime.

There have been 10 homicides in DC. Nine of the ten were from gun-related shootings. One was from trauma. Most of the homicides in November, October and September were from shootings.

Shootings have accounted for most of the violent deaths in December, according to D.C. Witness data. According to the data, even though there was a 29 percent drop in homicides from November to December of 2019, most of the death were still gun-related.

There was also another fatal shooting of a transgender individual on Dec. 30. The death has not been classified as a homicide by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. According to a press release, armed private security guards were securing a vacant building when they came in contact with another armed individual. Gunfire was exchanged and the wounded individual fled from the scene.

The individual, whose identity has not been released, was later found by officers. The individual did not display any signs consistent with life, according to the release. The death is under investigation.

Data shows that homicides increased in Ward 5 from one gun-related death to three. Homicides also increased by two in Ward 4, including the death of 40 year-old Jose Martinez- Coto, a resident of Northeast, DC who suffered from blunt force trauma.

Police believe the homicide stemmed from an alleged robbery on July 22, 2019. Martinez-Coto succumbed to his injuries on Dec. 4, 2019. According to a press release from the Metropolitan Police Department, two juveniles were apprehended. The juveniles were charged with robbery by use of force and violence.

It is unclear if the juveniles will be charged with murder.

Data also shows that the number of homicides in Ward 8, an area that is notorious for having the most homicides in the city month over month, dropped from six homicides in November of 2019 to two in December, a 67 percent decrease. The victims include 27-year-old Tyshaun Turner on Dec. 23, 2019, and 30-year-old Taboris Johnson on Dec. 6, 2019. Both victims were fatally shot.

Homicides also decreased in Ward 7 by 50 percent. and in Ward 1 from two homicides to none.

The number of homicides remained unchanged in Ward 6 with one in November and one in December.

Police arrested five suspects in connection to the murders that happened in December.

Arrests include 43-year-old Diantre Smith, who is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly killing 28 year-old Nyesha Lenea Galloway on the 400 block of 42nd Street, NE on Dec. 20, 2019.

Smith is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 21.

Police also arrested Jerome Alexander for allegedly shooting 28-year-old Richard Washington on the 3900 block of Minnesota, NE on Dec. 19, 2019. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 28.

Vaughn Alexander Kosh was arrested for allegedly shooting Alayna Dawnielle Howard on Dec. 7, 2019 on the 1700 block of Capital Avenue, NE. He is scheduled for a mental observation hearing on Jan. 24.