Crime: D.C. Shooting Deaths Mount While MPD Short-Staffed, GU Sex Assaults


Carjackings, MPD Short-Staffing and Congressional Scrutiny

As nationwide attention continues to focus on D.C.’s rising crime rates following the U.S. Senate’s recent overturning of the D.C. Council’s Revised Criminal Code Act, shooting deaths in the District continue to haunt residents. Meanwhile, Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is short-staffed in critical areas such as its Carjacking Task Force. In this vicious cycle, further Congressional oversight into the District’s criminal codes and law enforcement appears likely.

According to NBC 4, MPD’s current reporting shows that the District is “seeing on average more than one carjacking per day this year.” The Department’s Carjacking Dashboard “shows 82 carjackings in 2023 as of Feb. 22,” with only 14 of those cases closed and just 8 arrests, according to News 4’s I-Team investigation. MPD Sergeant Valkyrie Barnes of the Carjacking Task Force cited understaffing as a main culprit in the many unsolved carjacking cases. “MPD staffing is at a historic low number of officers and trying to strengthen units from patrol to criminal investigations,” the investigation reported. “The carjacking task force is just one of the units looking for help.”

Meanwhile, from Tuesday night to Friday morning last week (March 21-24) five young Washingtonians – all under 25 – were killed in shootings across the city as the District’s homicide rate this year continues to outpace that of last year. According to the Washington Post, the victims were: Traev’on Green, 16, killed Tuesday night at 22nd Street and Alabama Ave. SE. Jalen Dyer, 21, and Tariq Richardson, 20, killed Wednesday evening in the 4300 block of Third Street SE. “A day later, around 7:45 p.m. Thursday, 21-year-old Kristian Steward was shot and killed in the unit block of Galveston Street SW. And in the early hours of Friday morning, 24-year-old Stephon Carroll was fatally shot in the 4400 block of E Street SE.”

Sexual Assaults Near Georgetown University

Meanwhile, concerns continue over sexual assaults on or near the Georgetown University campus.

On March 1, detectives from MPD’s Sexual Assault Unit announced an arrest made in reference to “Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse offenses” that occurred on Wednesday, March 1 in the Second District. “In each of the offenses below, the suspect engaged in unwanted sexual contact with an adult female victim and then fled the scene,” the report said.

  • At approximately 9:11 am, in the 2400 block of Virginia Avenue, Northwest.
  • At approximately 9:30 am, in the 1300 block of 35th Street, Northwest.
  • At approximately 9:45 am, at the intersection of 35th and N Streets, Northwest.
  • At approximately 9:50 am, at the intersection of 35th and N Streets, Northwest.

A Georgetown University Police Officer observed the suspect assault one of the victims and stopped the suspect. On Wednesday, March 1, 2023, 26-year-old Elliot Johnson of no fixed address, was arrested and charged in the above offenses,” the report elaborated.

Local Crime Reports

On March 26, detectives from MPD’s Sexual Assault Unit requested public assistance in locating a suspect sought in a “Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse Offense” on the 1100 block of U St. NW. “At approximately 11:48 a.m., the suspect engaged in unwanted sexual contact with the victim at the listed location. The suspect then fled the scene,” the report said. “The suspect is described as a black male with dreads pulled back into a bun. The suspect was last seen wearing a green jacket, gray shirt, and black pants. The suspect was captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also on March 26, detectives from the same unit announced an arrest made in a “Third Degree Sexual Abuse Offense” that occurred on Friday, March 24, in the 3100 block of Mt. Pleasant St., NW. “At approximately 4:30 p.m., the suspect forcefully engaged in unwanted sexual contact with the victim, at the listed location. The suspect then fled the scene and was later apprehended by responding officers,” the report said.  “On Friday, March 24, 2023, 23 year-old Dominique Jefferson, of Northeast, DC, was arrested and charged with Third Degree Sexual Abuse.

Meanwhile, on the Nextdoor app, detectives from MPD’s Second District issued a “Crime & Public Safety” alert on March 25 announcing a shooting at 3900 Reservoir Rd. NW where “one round was discharged following an altercation.” According to the alert, the “suspect [is] known to the victim” and there were “no injuries.” In the same message, another incident was reported at approximately 3:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of Kalorama Rd. NW. Two victims “were approached by 3 suspects” whereby “the suspects assaulted the victims and took their property.” Two suspects were reported “stopped near the scene and arrested” and a third was “described as a male wearing a black jacket.”

On March 24, detectives from MPD’s First and Second Districts requested public assistance in identifying and locating suspects in “Burglary Two of an Establishment and Felony Destruction of Property Offenses” that occurred Friday, March 24. “At approximately 3:40 a.m., the suspects caused damage to an ATM in the 1400 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, Southeast,” the report said. “The suspects then fled the scene in a vehicle…. At approximately 4:30 a.m., the suspects [then] forcibly gained entry to an establishment in the 2600 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest. The suspects entered the building and then fled the scene in a vehicle…. At approximately 4:36 a.m., the suspects [then] forcibly gained entry to an establishment in the 1900 block of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest.  The suspects caused damage to an ATM and then fled the scene in a vehicle.”

The suspects were captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below. The suspects’ vehicle is described as a black Dodge Durango, with heavy tinted windows and was last seen displaying a partial Virginia tag of T1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 24, agents from MPD’s Force Investigations Team announced an investigation into a U.S. Park Police Officer-involved shooting incident that occurred on Saturday, March 18 in the 300 block of 36th St. NE. “At approximately 8:51 am, a Sixth District officer responded to the 3400 block of Baker Street, Northeast, for a call of a suspicious vehicle,” the report stated. “Upon arrival, an officer located a vehicle that was occupied and running. The officer observed the occupant of the vehicle was asleep and the ignition was punched. The officer determined the vehicle was stolen and then called for additional units over the radio. Additional MPD officers and two US Park Police officers arrived on scene to assist. At approximately 9:30 am, the MPD and USPP officers attempted to remove the occupant from the vehicle. The occupant resisted the officers’ efforts and was able to drive away with a USPP officer inside of the vehicle. The USPP officer discharged his weapon striking the occupant. The vehicle then crashed into a home in the 300 block of 36th Street, Northeast. The USPP officer did not sustain any life threatening injuries. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene, and after finding no signs consistent with life, the occupant of the vehicle was pronounced dead. There were no injuries reported by anyone inside the home. The decedent has been identified as 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin, of Northwest, DC. Following the crash, police say a firearm was recovered inside the vehicle.”

Detectives from MPD’s First District called on March 24 for public assistance in identifying and locating suspects in a “Burglary Two of an Establishment offense” that occurred on Friday, March 10, 2023 in the 800 block of 7th St. NW. “At approximately 1:50 a.m., the suspects forcibly gained entry to an establishment at the listed location. Once inside, the suspects took property and then fled the scene. The suspects were captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in this video and in the photos below:

On March 25, detectives from MPD’s Fourth District requested public assistance in identifying and locating suspects in reference to a “Robber (Force and Violence) offense” that occurred on Friday, March 24 in the 5900 block of Georgia Ave. NW. At approximately 11:34 am, the suspects assaulted the victim, inside of an establishment, and took property from the victim. The suspects then fled the scene,” the report said. “The suspects were captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in the photos below and in this video: https://youtu.be/rMn8zXvdXmo.”

On March 23, detectives from MPD’s Second District requested public assistance in locating a suspect in reference to a “Robbery (Fear) offense” that occurred on Wednesday, March 22 in the 1500 block of 14th St. NW. “At approximately 4:00 p.m., the suspect approached the victim who was getting money from an ATM at the listed location. The suspect demanded money from the victim and threatened the victim. The victim complied and the suspect fled the scene. The suspect was captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in the photos below and in this video:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On March 20, detectives from MPD’s Fourth District requested the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in an “Assault with Intent to Commit Robbery offense” that occurred on Sunday, March 19, in the 7800 block of Georgia Ave. NW. “At approximately 7:18 am, the suspect approached the victim at the listed location,” the report said. “The suspect assaulted the victim and attempted to take the victim’s property. The suspect then fled the scene without obtaining any property. The suspect was captured by a nearby surveillance camera and can be seen in the photos below:”

 

MPD’s” Weekly Firearm Recoveries” Report

In their most recent “Weekly Firearm Recoveries” report for March 13 – 16, MPD reported 51 firearms taken off the District’s streets. Arrestees listed in the report included suspects as young as: 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 26. The following were noted gun confiscations in Northwest, D.C.:

  • A Ruger Security-9 9mm caliber handgun was recovered in the 100 block of Longfellow Street, Northwest. The following person was arrested: 17-year-old male juvenile, of Alexandria, VA, for Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, Carrying a Pistol without a License, Robbery, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and Obliterate, Remove, Change, or Alter the Serial Number of a Firearm. CCN: 23-041-164
  • A Glock 19 9mm caliber handgun and a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm caliber handgun (both pictured below) were recovered in the 2200 block of Constitution Avenue, Northwest. The following people were arrested: 25-year-old Tislam Joyner, of Concord, VA, and 23-year-old Brittany Davis, of Windsor, VA, for Carrying a Pistol without a License, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device. CCN: 23-041-581
  • A Glock 43 9mm caliber handgun was recovered in the 1800 block of M Street, Northwest. The following person was arrested: 30-year-old Anthony Kojo Danso, of Odenton, MD, for Carrying a Pistol without a License. CCN: 23-041-429
  • A Glock 22 .40 caliber handgun was recovered in the 700 block of Quebec Place, Northwest. CCN: 23-040-173
  • A Glock 19 9mm caliber handgun and a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm caliber handgun (both pictured below) were recovered in the 2200 block of Constitution Avenue, Northwest. The following people were arrested: 25-year-old Tislam Joyner, of Concord, VA, and 23-year-old Brittany Davis, of Windsor, VA, for Carrying a Pistol without a License, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device. CCN: 23-041-581
  • A Glock 27 .40 caliber handgun was recovered in the 1900 block of 14th Street, Northwest. CCN: 23-041-657
  • A Glock 19 9mm caliber handgun was recovered in the 1900 block of N Street, Northwest. The following person was arrested: 27-year-old Malik Lamont Carney, of Lorton, VA, for Carrying a Pistol without a License, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device. CCN: 23-041-942
  • A Glock 17 9mm caliber handgun was recovered in the 1300 block of 19th Street, Northwest. The following person was arrested: 26-year-old Jonathan Stephen Robert Weise, of Northeast, D.C., for Carrying a Pistol without a License. CCN: 23-042-536
  • A 9mm caliber “Ghost Gun” handgun was recovered in the 1600 block of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest. The following person was arrested: 25-year-old Demetrica Lottiesse Wells, of Northeast, D.C., for Carrying a Pistol without a License, Possession of Unregistered Ammunition, Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, National Firearms Act, and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device. CCN: 23-043-295
  • A GSG 16 .22 caliber rifle was recovered in the 200 block of Farragut Street, Northwest. The following person was arrested: 17-year-old male juvenile, of Northwest, D.C., for Carrying a Rifle or Shotgun outside a Home or Business, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device. CCN: 23-043-455

MPD notice: Anyone with knowledge of the above incidents should “take no action, but call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip” to MPD’s Text Tip Line at 50411. Rewards may be available for information leading to arrests and conviction “of the person or persons responsible for a violent crime committed in the District of Columbia.”

 

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