Suicides in the District

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 5, 2019
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

Between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15, there have been 45 suicides that have occurred in Washington, DC, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Washington DC.

Of those 45 suicides 10 victims resided in Maryland, two people had no fixed address and two other victims resided outside the region. Twenty-eight victims resided in DC.

Most of the victims were between the ages of 30 to 39 years old at the time of death. There was only one victim over the age of 80. Five victims were between the ages of 13 to 19 year old.

Given the data, most people died of suicide by hanging. The most suicides, 8, occurred in July.

According to D.C. Witness data, there have been two suicides that were thought to be connected to homicides between Jan. 1 and Oct. 15.

On June 7, officers responded to the 4300 block of Windom Place, NW. Upon arriving ,officers gained entry to the front door of the residence where they saw an adult male with a hand gun. Officers then heard a single gun shot and found 51-year-old Jason Rieff suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound. After searching the residence further the officers also found 45-year-old Lola Gulomova who displayed no signs consistent with life. The OCME ruled the manner of death a murder-suicide carried out by Rieff.

A few days later, on June 15, police found Richfield Chang shot to death in his apartment on Jenkins Row, a complex on Pennsylvania Avenue in Southeast DC. Peter Nhek Neth was wanted in connection to the murder.

Days later authorities found Neth’s body in a residence in Ashburn, Va. He suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, changing the case to a murder suicide across district lines.

According to DC Police Chief Peter Newsham, the men had an “amicable relationship.” Apparently, the apartment the two men shared with a woman was used to sell marijuana. The police said they did not believe the shooting was drug-related.

Jaylin Hawkins wrote this article.