Park View, D.C.

Officers at the intersection of Newton Place adn 6th Street wrapping up their invesigation of Saturday's gunfire incident

Sadly, among the first things that I awoke to on Saturday morning (1/7/12) were emails inquiring about reported gunfire during the night and asking for details. I quickly learned from the 4D Substation that at 3:12 a.m., they received multiple calls for “sounds of gunshots” in the area of the 600 b/o Newton & 700 b/o Otis Place. At that time police canvassed the area but did not find any possible victim(s), witness(es), property damage or evidence of a weapon being discharged.

That changed as the morning progressed.  In inspecting the area myself in the early afternoon, I found that MPD was wrapping up an investigation of the crime scene where they had tapped off the area and placed cones throughout the area to mark evidence. Ultimately the following was posted on the 4D listserv in response to a request for information.

Units responded and did not find any victim(s), witness(es), property damage or evidence of a weapon being discharged. Later this morning, units discovered that a vehicle had been damaged from bullet holes in the 3500 block of 6th Street. Detectives are trying to determine a motive for the incident. If anyone has information, please call 1-888-919-CRIM(E).

Bullet hole in Dodge Durango parked at 6th and Newton

Further still, Saturday ended as it began, with violent criminal activity in the community. Again according to the 4D listserv, “on Saturday night, the Fourth District experienced multiple robberies in a short period of time.”  There was one around 10:30 p.m. on the unit block of Kennedy. In Park View, there were two, one around 11 p.m. on the 700 b/o Rock Creek Church Road and one shortly before midnight on the 700 b/o Newton Place. Below are the MPD descriptions of the Park View robberies.

Shortly after 11 PM, two complainants were walking in the 700 block of Rock Creek Church Road, NW, when they were approached by three subjects. The first suspect displayed a handgun and demanded the complainant’s property. The suspect obtained the first complainant’s property. The second suspect demanded the other complainant’s property, who complied. The suspects then fled the location. The third suspect stood as a lookout during the robbery. The lookout for suspect # 1 is a black male, 5’10″, 20-25 years old, 150 lbs, black clothing, black ski masks; suspect # 2 is a black male, 6’4″, 160-170 lbs, light complexion, think build, ski mask, wearing a gray sweatshirt and light colored jeans; suspect # 3 was described only as a black male wearing dark clothing.

Shortly before midnight, two complainants were in the 700 block of Newton Place, NW, when they were approached by two subjects. Suspect # 1 asked the first complainant a question and then punched the complainant. Suspect # 1 then told the second complainant to get on the ground and brandished a handgun. Both complainants gave their property to the suspects. The suspects then fled the area on foot. The lookout for suspect # 1 is a black male, 18-19 years old, 5’10″-6″, 155-170 lbs, dark complexion, think build, wearing black clothing. Suspect # 2 is a black male, 18-19 years old, 5’8″-5’9″, 160-175 lbs, dark complexion, wearing all black clothing.

Anyone with information regarding these robberies is urged to call 1-888-919-CRIM[E]

MPD is scheduled to have a representative (most likely Commander Missouri) at Wednesday’s ANC 1A Meeting to discuss the recent police redistricting and answer questions about this change impacts police service in our area. It will be an excellent opportunity to inquire about what this weekend’s crime events mean and how MPD plans to respond.

Area violence is starting to heat up, and sadly Park View has lost two young adults in shooting incidents within the last 5 days. Most recently, according to MPD via the Washington Post, 20-year-old Kevin Andre Washington died early Sunday morning (April 10) after being shot. Washington was killed in the 100 block of Irving Street and found lying in the street just after midnight with apparent gunshot wounds.  The Post continues …

Officers had received a call about a struck pedestrian in the Park View neighborhood. Washington was transported to a hospital, and was pronounced dead at 12:45 a.m., police said. An investigation is ongoing.

Washington lived on the 600 block of Quebec Street and was popular within the community which was already saddened by the loss of 22-year-old Shonell Corriea, who was fatally shot behind his residence in the 700 block of Quincy Street, NW, on Wednesday evening April 6 at around 9:45 p.m. Earlier in the evening, Corriea was at the Park View Rec Center playing basketball with friends.

Whether these homicides are related or not, MPD’s 3 & 4 Districts are going to need to work together if there is any hope of getting a handle on this situation and prevent further loss of life.