Homicide Watch D.C.

06/08/2020

12/31/2014

Here's 2014, by the numbers. Our full Year in Review package is up now.

The District of Columbia recorded 108 homicides in 2014, two more than last year. It is the second consecutive year that the number of killings has risen. Homicides reached a 50-year low in 2012. That year, MPD counted 88 homicides (excluding four ruled self-defense, for a total of 92). Five childre…

11/15/2014

You asked what Homicide Watch DC needs to continue. We've put together a request for proposals to continue the site: http://homicidewatch.org/2014/11/15/request-for-proposals-to-continue-homicide-watch-d-c/

A week ago, we announced that we would close this site at the end of December, after covering the District of Columbia for more than four years. Many of you asked how you could help keep the site going and offered your support. Your comments and emails have been overwhelming and gratifying, and we w…

11/11/2014

On November 1st, 2014, Latroia Smith, a loving mother of three young boys, was found murdered in an abandoned house on 2700 Block of Langston Place, SE, Washington, DC.  She had been shot three times and set on fire.  The predator who committed this horrific crime is still at large and...

11/09/2014

Here's what happened in court this week:

In brief: Two homicides were reported this week: Police found one-month-old Raj'saun Tyrik Brown in the 1700 block of Trenton Place Southeast. He was taken to a local hospital, where he died. Latroia Renee Smith, 26, was found dead at the scene of a fire. A medical examiner found that Smith "sustain…

11/05/2014

Sad news. We will be closing the site at the end of the year, after more than four years covering every homicide from crime to conviction. Thank you for everything.

Dear friends, After covering every homicide in the District for more than four years, Homicide Watch D.C. will close January 1, 2015. Chris and I launched Homicide Watch D.C. in September 2010 when we were D.C. residents. I ran the site, mostly out of D.C. Superior Court, for more than two years whi…

11/04/2014

In Memory Of Andre Jackson ;Today marks two years since you been gone dam Cuz I can't believe it's been that long it seems just like yesterday you was taken away by people you thought were your friends anyway I wish you could have saw them for who they really were before it was to late but the snakes creeped up on you by the gate knowing you trusted them and because you was so loyal they took you for granted and shot you down like a stranger from out of town when we arrived on the scene we couldn't do anything they backstabbing a** had left you there to die we didn't even get a chance to say goodbye Dre please know that you're deeply Loved & Missed by your real family and friends

10/30/2014

Just in: A jury has cleared Deangelo Williams of all charges in Lucki Pannell's murder.

Jurors acquitted Deangelo Williams of all charges in the February 2011 murder of Lucki Pannell. Williams was indicted on first-degree premeditated murder and three counts of possession of a firearm. He was also cleared of two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, for allegedly shooting…

10/20/2014

Just got an ID: Jabari Fields, from Landover, MD. He was 29.

Homicide Watch D.C. is a community-oriented news site that aims to provide clear information about homicides and the tools necessary to record, report and share our experiences and losses within the District of Columbia.

10/20/2014

Here's what we know about the double shooting last night in Northwest:

Still waiting on an ID. Will update when we know more.

An early-morning shooting at the intersection of 8th and Jefferson Street Northwest left one man dead and another injured, according to news reports. WUSA9 reports: Police say Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a report of a shooting on 8th Street at Jefferson Street around 2:46 a.…

10/16/2014

Three and a half years after Lucki Pannell's death, we are starting to learn what the other two people on that porch saw.

Prosecutors say that Terry Jimenez knew exactly who shot and killed 18-year-old Lucki Pannell on Feb. 19, 2011. That night, Jimenez and his brother BJ recognized the distinctive eyes of Williams, despite Williams' mask, when he ran up to Pannell's porch and opened fire, said Assistant U.S. Attorney…

10/08/2014

Report from the preliminary hearing for Mark Bowser, accused of killing Tracy Womack. A note of caution here: This is a hard read.

A judge found probable cause in the case against Mark Kenyatta Bowser Jr. for the murder of Tracy Womack Tuesday, a ruling that prompted audible affirmation from Womack's friends and family. Police discovered 39-year-old Womack unconscious on the bedroom floor at her home in the 4600 block of Bennin…

09/20/2014

First report on a stabbing last night. Don't have much, but we have a name: Tracy Womack, 39, of Southeast.

Tracy Womack, 39, was killed in an apparent stabbing overnight Saturday. Police found Womack, from Southeast DC, in the 4600 block of Benning Road Southeast. MPD's full press release is below: September 20, 2014 Homicide: 4600 Block of Benning Road, Southeast (Washington, DC) – Detectives from the M…

09/20/2014

Arrested for murder 2, held on a weapons charge. Keep an eye on this one.

A judge ordered Christopher Fields held Friday for an unlawful possession of a firearm, but not the second-degree murder charge MPD arrested him for Wednesday. Devar Battle was found with gunshot wounds on Sept. 28, 2013, in the 3000 block of 30th Street Southeast at around 12:40 a.m. He later died…

09/16/2014

Another child death. SMH.

A 25-year-old Southeast D.C. woman was arrested Tuesday in connection with the June death of 3-year-old Xavier Lyles. The woman, identified by police as Frances Lyles, is suspected of first-degree felony murder. The toddler was found unconscious and unresponsive, with no signs consistent with life a…

09/16/2014

“It wasn’t the first time it happened, but it will be the last time.” Simms told police. “[I’m] not gonna let him keep on beating me.”

Yvonne Simms was released Saturday after a judge ruled there was not enough evidence to hold the her. Simms, 50, is suspected of stabbing 49-year-old Kenyatta Jordan, her husband. On Monday, U.S. Attorney's Office Spokesman William Miller said Simms remains charged with second-degree murder while ar…

09/05/2014

From last night, first court appearance for Tyrone Height and James Young, accused of killing Willard Carlos Shelton:

Judge William Nooter ordered Tyrone Height and James Young held Thursday on suspicion of first-degree felony murder while armed for the shooting death of Willard Carlos Shelton. Police found Shelton with gunshot wounds after responding to a report of a shooting in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Sout…

09/05/2014

The case of Michael Poth, who killed fellow marine Philip Bushong, comes to an end:

A judge sentenced former Marine Michael Poth to 11 years and three months in prison for the fatal stabbing of Philip Bushong, a fellow Marine. "The defendant threatened Mr. Bushong minutes before the incident and evidence showed he went back to provoke him," Judge Russell Canan said before deliverin…

08/31/2014

Just getting an ID on a fatal shooting this morning in Southeast:

Willard Carlos Shelton died at a local hospital Sunday after being found with gunshot wounds in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road Southeast. Police found Shelton, 38, just around 7:04 a.m. Sunday. (Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating…

08/26/2014

Just hours after the jury delivered a partial verdict, we have a mistrial.

Judge Lynn Leibovitz declared a mistrial on a single murder charge against Lamonte Perry Monday, after a jury cleared him of some charges and convicted him of one but deadlocked on the final count. In court, the foreperson of the jury paused for a moment before telling Leibovitz that further deliber…

08/20/2014

The first day of deliberations is over with no verdict yet.

Jurors in the murder trial of Lamonte Perry have been told that Perry and Andre Jackson were very good friends. But as jurors head into deliberations, they must determine if Perry's allegiance to his 37th street neighborhood outweighed his friendship, as prosecutors alleged, or if Perry was simply w…

08/17/2014

Here's our report, from earlier this week, where we heard about the moments surrounding the death of Tajuana Hooks:

Kieva Hooks admitted to police that she cut her mother 37 times, inflicting 21 stab wounds during an early-morning argument inside their Columbia Heights apartment. Tajuana Hooks, according to testimony heard Monday, called out, "no Kie, no," as it happened. Judge Robert Richter used that piece of i…

08/12/2014

In case you missed this yesterday, the legal questions around James Brady's death and John Hinckley Jr:

When James Brady, the former press secretary wounded in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan, died this week at age 73, it opened the possibility that John Hinckley Jr. could be charged with murder. A jury acquitted Hinckley for the original shooting, finding him not guilty by reason…

08/10/2014

Two homicides this week, including President Reagan's former press secretary. See what else happened in our Week in Review:

In brief: Two homicides were reported this week in D.C.: Dondre Keenen Dyer, 23, died in a shooting near the 3600 block of Warder Street Northwest, close to Park View Elementary School. Former Press Secretary James Brady, 73, who was wounded in the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan in…

08/09/2014

First report on a fatal shooting Friday night:

A shooting in the 3600 Block of Warder Street Northwest killed 23-year-old Dondre Keenen Dyer late Friday night, according to MPD. Police officers responding to the sound of gunshots at approximately 10:52 p.m. found Dyer suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at the intersection of Warder Street an…

08/09/2014

Former press secretary James Brady died Monday, more than 30 years after he was wounded in an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Today, MPD ruled his death a homicide.

Homicide Watch D.C. is a community-oriented news site that aims to provide clear information about homicides and the tools necessary to record, report and share our experiences and losses within the District of Columbia.

08/08/2014

Chilling account of the attack that led to Carlton Coltrane's death:

A judge found substantial probability Friday that Zerrick Brown and Earl Patrick committed a robbery that led to the death of 60-year-old Carlton Coltrane. The men are each suspected of first-degree felony murder. Coltrane died on May 9, three days after he was dragged out of a 7-Eleven on 8th Stree…

08/07/2014

Neal and Robinson plead guilty to armed robbery, down from the murder charges both were facing:

Floyd Neal and Lafeyette Robinson pleaded guilty to armed robbery Tuesday, in a case stemming from the shooting death of Akinwole Olu Williams. Both had been charged first-degree murder and were scheduled for trial next week. Those murder charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement. Ten days…

08/01/2014

A new homicide and quick arrest yesterday. Here's what we know:

A 54-year-old woman found dead early Thursday morning when police responded to a call for an aggravated assault, MPD said Thurday. The woman, identified by police as Tajuana Lynn Hooks, was found at 5:20 a.m. unconscious and unresponsive in the 1300 block of Columbia Road Northwest. Police have arre…

07/29/2014

Split decision yesterday as the Fleming/People trial reached a verdict:

After more than two days of deliberations, jurors found Bernard Fleming guilty of second-degree murder and Joseph Peoples innocent of the same charge in the shooting death of Michael Jones. Jones was found shot on July 7, 2012, at approximately 10:38 pm in the 1700 block of 7th Street Northwest. At…

07/23/2014

Arrest in the stabbing death of Eboni Domally. Here's what we know:

A man suspected of killing 31-year-old Eboni Domally was arrested in Charlotte, North Carolina, according to WCNC, a local NBC station. Michael Gayle was arrested by U.S. marshals and Charlotte-Mecklenburg at his home in Charlotte. He was booked into Mecklenburg County Jail, the station reported. Do…

07/21/2014

What we know about the shooting that killed 22-year-old Delonta Lavale Martin:

A male person shot late Sunday evening in the 4700 block of Minnesota Avenue Northeast has died from his injuries, according to MPD. The person's age and name have not yet been identified. Police say the person was found suffering with multiple gunshots wounds after officers responded to a call for…

07/20/2014

Two homicides, and a busy week in DC courts. Catch up here:

In brief: Delonte Hemphill died in a shooting in the 3500 block of 6th Street Southeast on Monday, July 14. Also Monday, Derek Price died from wounds sustained in a shooting last Sunday. He is the second man to die in that shooting, which also killed Donchell Thomas. Jimmie Fleming has been arrested…

07/11/2014

David Shepherd is guilty on all charges in the shooting death of Henry Miller.

David Allen Shepherd has been found guilty of first-degree murder while armed in the 2012 shooting death of Henry Charles Miller. Jurors delivered the guilty verdict late Friday afternoon after less than two days of deliberations. During the five-day trial, three witnesses testified they saw 50-year…

07/07/2014

No new trial for David Warren:

Judge Rhonda Reid Winston signed an order in her chambers Monday denying David Warren a new trial. Warren was sentenced in June to 36 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of first-and second-degree murder as well as 10 other charges related to the shooting death of Ervin Lamont Griffin. War…