Update on Quebec Place Homicide

On the same night as the Metro tragedy there was a violent homicide on the 600 block of Park View. The only good news was that the assailant was apprehended.

While its going to take a while for this case to work its way through the courts, I wanted to give an update to my last report on where things stood with the accused.

On July 24th, the preliminary hearing was held and probable cause was found in the case pending a Grand Jury. The accused will continue to be held without bond. The next court date is set for October 23, 2009.

WP Arcticle on Police/Community Communications Include Yours Truly

For those that may have missed it, I got my 15 seconds of fame in this morning’s Washington Post. Washington Post writer Theola Labbé-DeBose contacted me a few weeks back about about this piece she was doing on police/community communications in the online environment.

While I wish it had been under different circumstances, the interview was an enjoyable experience.

Some questions I’d like to throw out there for you all is: What have your experiences been like when trying to find out information on neighborhood crime? How do you contact the police when you are in need, and has it been effective?

This Date in History

July 17, 1910: Mrs. Annie Wilder of 1735 Seventeenth Street, NW, discovered the loss of jewelry valued at $200. A gang of thieves which had been working in various houses in Washington the previous week was considered the likely suspects.

The jewelry consisted of a gold wedding ring, a diamond ring with rose setting, a diamond solitaire, a plain diamond, and one large six-stone diamond setting.

Homicide in Park Morton

This was on the 3D Substation listserv this morning:

On July 5, 2009, at about 1215 AM an adult male was fatally shot while in the 600 block of Morton Pl. NW. Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department on 202 727-9099.

Break In at Looking Glass Lounge

I learned tonight that the Looking Glass Lounge was broken into last night, July 2nd. Sometime between the time they closed and the early morning hours, a person(s) broke in through the front window which cracked but didn’t shatter. They didn’t go beyond the cash register, but did steal a television, cell phone, bottles of liquor, and cleaned out the register.

It appears to have been a quick in and out since there were other items of interest that were not touched.

You can get some sense of the scope of things from the photos after the jump.

Police Helicopters Wednesday Night

For those of you that live in northern Park View or southern Petworth, you may have wondered what was up with the police helicopters last night. It’s my understanding that a liquor store on Georgia Ave. was robbed there was a robbery and the helicopters were part of the police response.

If anyone knows more about this incident, please share what you know.

Homicides Down Nearly 20%, MPD Reports

The Washington Post reported today that:

With 2009 half over, the number of homicides reported by police in the District — 66 — is 20 percent below last year’s figure and is on pace to be the lowest yearly total in decades.

If the homicide rate continued through December, the total for 2009 would be 134. That would be 52 fewer slayings than last year and 47 fewer than in 2007. It would be 35 fewer than in 2006.

With some very high profile, and violent, homicides in recent weeks, its hard to keep this larger picture in mind. The city still has its hot spots, and 14th Street seems to have several of them. If one can say there is a bright side to these violent crimes, it would be that several of the perpetrators have actually been caught, arrested, and awaiting trial.

Update on Quebec Place Shooting

A reader alerted me that the case against Troy Thomas in last week’s shooting in Park View is now up on the DC Superior Court Web site.

From the court records, Thomas is being charged with Murder, MurderII, and Armed with intent to Kill. He is currently being held without bond. I also learned over the weekend that the case against Thomas is considered to be a solid one.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 10th at 9:30 am in courtroom 215, Judge Dixon presiding.

Jim Graham’s Statements on Last Night’s Park View Shootings

Jim Graham issued a few statements on last night’s shootings around midday today. They are as follows:

Statement sent at 12:20 pm:

Dear Friends,

Last night, at about 10 PM, there was a shooting outside of 618 Quebec NW. Details remain sketchy.

However, the report I have is that a man in a Mercedes Benz pulled up in front of 618 Quebec, and shots were thereafter exchanged. A number of shots were fired.

A woman at the address was shot in the leg. The driver of the car pulled away, but shortly thereafter (at Park Place and Otis) the car went out of control and crashed. The driver, who had apparently been shot in the exchange, was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and later died.

This address on Quebec has previously been the subject of numerous neighborhood complaints.

MPD tells me that this is more evidence of a beef between a gang in Park View and one at 7th and Taylor in Ward 4.

More information to follow.Councilmember Jim Graham

Graham followed up with this email at 1:22 pm:

Dear Friends, I now have a little bit more information.

The driver in the Mercedes was standing with the others in front of 618 Quebec Place. Persons (or person) in a tan or silver station wagon had parked, and proceeded to the address, where they opened fire. They returned to their vehicle and fled. MPD is looking for this vehicle now.

Later in the wee hours of the morning, more shots were fired in the area of 7th and Shepherd, suggesting more gang related feuding.

Bests Jim

Shooting on Quebec Near Park Place

At about 10:15 pm this evening a barrage of gunfire erupted on Quebec Place. From the gunfire I heard, there were easily 15-20 shots fired. Police responded relatively quickly, and at least two victims is are known to have been shot. One is a woman that was on Quebec, the other a driver that may or may not have been a bystander heading south on Park Place. The driver crashed his car in addition to the gunshot wounds. The extent of their injuries are not known at this time, but they do not appear to be life threatening. I’ll report more as details come my way.

Update: As of 11:19 pm, helicopters were added to the scene.

Update from Commander Kishter: A shooting occurred at Park Place and Quebec. One adult female was struck in the leg and was transported to an area hospital.  A second adult male was also struck in the upper torso and attempted to drive away in his vehicle causing him to crash near Quebec and Warder Streets.  He was transported to an area hospital in serious condition.  The matter is currently being investigated by the Third District Detectives.

I’ve also heard, but have not confirmed, that the driver in serious condition died. Does anyone know if this is in fact the case?

Update: As of this morning, Quebec is still taped off. In speaking with one of the officers, there are no new details and the investigation is ongoing.