Park View, D.C.

I know that a lot of residents want to know about the shooting that occurred in the area of the 600 b/o Park Road and Morton Street last night. According to NBC 4, which has the fullest account I’ve found (also click image below for video), a 7-year-old girl was shot and wounded while playing at the Park Morton apartment complex playground. A man was also injured in the incident. The shooting occurred at approximately 7:24 p.m.

In reaching out to MPD, I was informed that the adult victim in this case is believed to have been the intended target. I’ll share more if/when it becomes available.

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.