Police alert:
Shooting 23:30Hrs 1300 G Street NE LOF 2 B/M's one with corn rolls dark shirts/pants west on G Street DO NOT TAKE ACTION CALL 911 W/EVENT #120120305002
Sent on: 06/20 23:43
UPDATE from MPD:
"Yesterday evening, at approximately 11:30 pm, an adult individual was shot during a robbery. The incident occurred in the 1300 block of G street, NE. The victim is in stable condition. The look-out is as follows:
Suspect 1 - Black male; 5'8" to 5'9"; wearing either a dark blue or black tee shirt.
Suspect 2 - Same look-out as suspect 1
One of the suspects had long braids in his hair."
NBC4 reports that two suspects attempted to rob a man of his iPhone, but something happened, and he was shot in the face. He was taken to the hospital, where he is is critical condition.
67 comments:
It was a cell phone robbery...
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Man-Shot-in-the-Face-in-NE-159844785.html
lovely...just one block from my old place. (and just a few more from my current home.)
surely this incident will precipitate an escalation of police presence in the area. although i don't have the data to back it up, it really does seem like there has been a huge spike in violent thefts in the area in the last couple months.
when it's dark out, stay off your phone, period. that phone call can wait until you're safely inside your home or car. we know thieves are targeting iphones. use them outside at night at your peril.
The intersection of Maryland and G is a big problem. Stabbings, shootings, assaults, for about a two block radius around there, are far too common. If I'm walking back from the bars to Rosedale I never, ever ever go that way.
Would like to know if there's something the community can do to help the victim. Just awful.
It must be the nicer weather. Crime rates go up when the weather is nice and young people are hanging around and bored. I live at 8th and G. This is so scary for me. I sometimes have my iphone out and if I'm going to the east end of H street I usually take G because it's quieter and prettier. That's about to change. No more iphone, no more G Street. I come home from work sometimes as late as midnight too. A couple weeks ago a few kids opened my fence and chased me into my house. They were right behind me when I unlocked the door and I screamed for my fiance and he came running and the kids ran off scared. I'm not sure what they were wanting to do to me. We've lived here for a year and so far have seen or heard of more crime in one month than we have the whole year. What's happened to our neighborhood?!
I live on G St. NE (my front yard was part of the crime scene last night). One of the things I think would be a big help is for all of the residents on the street to leave their porch lights on at night. There aren't many street lights and the street can look pretty dark at night. Just sending an overt signal that there are people around and the street isn't deserted could go a long way. More police presence would go a lot further, though.
Apparently there was also a robbery at gunpoint on Wylie street a few days ago.
Maybe this will get Lanier and crew off their usual talking point of "don't worry, the increase in muggings is only cell phone thefts."
Those concerned about the spike in violent crimes in the H Street corridor should demand answers about what's being done from Tommy Wells, from MPD, and from the Mayor's office. Those with media contacts should use them. Bad press is sometimes the only thing that gets their attention.
I also live on that block of G but didn't hear anything last night and I was awake. I agree that we should all keep our porch lights on. And I'm emailing Tommy Wells about pruning the trees around the light posts. The street is quite dark.
Anon 10:38- that's serious. Did you call MPD?
I live very close to where this incident occured. Would it be too unheard of to request cameras be installed at some points around the streets or on corner street lights? I am sure this idea would get little attention but maybe if we all requested this it could eventually happen...
Also I am considering purchasing my own camera for the exterior of my house. I have done some research and they aren't that expensive. Thoughts?
Our thoughts and prayers go to the victim, We urge MPD to find these perpetrators and bring them to justice and we must seek to prevent further crimes.
Wether it's better lighting, more cameras, better police patrols and more porch lights, we must be involved in prevention.
Thoughts on cameras:
While they might help in detecting and prosecuting criminal acts (and that's a big maybe), cameras in public spaces do very little to actually prevent crime.
Some studies indicate that, given enough cameras and constant surveillance by trained staff, cameras can help deter crime - but absent that, they're not great.
See this:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/study-questions-whether-cameras-cut-crime/
RE: cameras, are there any examples at all of MPD doing something useful with footage provided from a private citizen's/entity's video camera?
During the rash a few months ago of robberies/burglaries/thefts in the nbhd that spawned the meetings at Sherwood Rec Center and Options, the managers of one of the large condo buildings nearby complained that they had given the police footage that shows quite clearly the face of someone in the process of smash-and-grabbing multiple vehicles in their parking lot, and that the police had done nothing with it. The police replied with "there's nothing we can say about that, but we're evaluating it." As far as I know, it was never used for anything at all.
DC Crime Map says violent crime within 1,000 feet of this address is down 41 percent year to date compared to the same time period last year. So no, crime is not on the rise at this location, and anyone who says so is just being alarmist.
Do you work for MPD?
It's time for DC to allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed firearms. The police cannot adequately protect us and all citizens black, white or asian should be able to defend themselves. Perhaps June Lim would still be alive if this were the case. Ever wonder why where large populations of african americans live (Chicago, New York, DC) gun control laws are the strictest? The District's racist gun laws need to end! Condolenses to the victim of this crime.
Was the victim ON his phone, or just carrying it on his person? Let's not jump to blame the victim, please.
I live on 11th. If i ever go to the bars on H, i RUN home. seriously, i don't feel safe around maryland ave. it's a shame.
i was carjacked last year on a very hot day, so please watch your step when it's crazy hot like this.
as for video cameras, there is an item in today's Post about a guilty verdict in a robbery/murder caught on tape from 2 years ago in our area. it might not deter crime, but it sure can put people away.
Corn rolls? Really?
anon 1:20pm:
Trust me, citizens having the ability to carry concealed is not the answer. Unless you are a highly trained professional accustomed to concealed carry and presenting a concealed weapon in a high stress situtation, the results will be disastrous. You will most undoubtedly end up with a crease in your hat, sans concealed weapon.
Having actual, stiff sentences for people convicted of robbery is the answer. You end up with folks who commit a half dozen of these crimes and when they're finally, finally caught, they're given special consideration because they're "first time offenders."
If you commit a crime of violence against a stranger, you should be put away for a very, very long time.
Allowing concealed weapons doesn't go far enough. Citizens should be required, not simply allowed, to carry fully visible automatic weapons and to wear kevlar vests. We should also be issued non-lethal stun grenades and tasers to deal with particularly unpleasant children. Until all Americans are fully weaponized, we'll never be safe - or free.
2:20,
I had not even noticed how they spelled it in the alert. I guess I was more tired than I thought.
I really wish more people in the area would leave their porch lights on. I'm amazed at night at how dark some steets are. Leaving your porch lights on at night won't stop every nut case, but it might stop one or two.
Problem with everyone carrying guns is that you never know when some nutcase driver with a bad day many pull it out on you if you just cut him off on the street. The solution is stiff sentence and crack down on all illegal guns.
i feel like i made a mistake buying a house in this neighborhood last year. what the hell was i thinking??
Porch lights aren't gonna keep these animals from targeting us.
"Maybe this will get Lanier and crew off their usual talking point of "don't worry, the increase in muggings is only cell phone thefts."
^ Read all the posts before you reply. The very first post in this thread shows that it's a cell phone robbery.
Did the victim live?
I don't care if they are "just" teens. If they are old enough to score a gun and shoot someone, they are old enough to rot in prison for the rest of their lives.
Paging Bernie Getz...
That area has always been known for violence. Mostly because it's a quick escape into the slums across the river using Benning or into Maryland using Bladensburg/295.
1:18,
We haven't seen a lot of violence over there. This an anomaly, not confirmation of an outdated reputation.
I know people are unnerved by this incident, as they should be, but I think it's important to keep perspective. Part of that is acknowleging how terrible this incident and working on both a community, and a personal level, to help prevent things like this from happening. That could include (among other steps): requesting increased police patrols, turning on your porch light, and encouraging others to do the same, making sure to report burned out streetlights promptly, avoiding dark streets/darks sides of streets, staying on crowded streets as long as possible, keeping you electronics out of sight when you walk alone (or in a small group) at night.
Inked, I hear what you are saying
but I RESENT that I have to alter MY actions in an attempt to prevent being assaulted by these THUGS.
What Jim was suggesting is compelling...set up a sting to catch these aholes Bernie Getz style. This coming from a liberal, leftie, tree hugger.
Its unfortunate that our basic freedom to be able to walk freely in our own neighborhoods has been infringed upon by some hoodlums. We may as well all be incarcerated in our homes. It's impossible to take a walk after dinner as means of exercise due to fear of being shot at.
I feel terrible for the person who was shot. We have some horrible people in our neighborhood but it is getting better by the day. Remember there was a time when eastern market was thought to be dangerous.
H st is better than it was and will be better than it is.
The police need to do undercover stings to catch violent criminals but even if they do nothing but hang out at the 711 (like they do now) our home will still get safer every day.
I'm guessing the victim was white, since everyone is freaking out about it.
He's in stable condition and spoke to the police and gave them a description.... unlike the Asian woman who was brutally murdered on H Street in broad daylight just a week ago. Where's the freaking out about that?
8:45 & 8:59,
Recall that Goetz was convicted and did time. Besides, I hardly think that Capitol Hill is comparable to the NYC subway of 1984.
It's by no means impossible to walk around at night. I do it all the time. But you are in a CITY. Things can happen. It simply makes sense to take certain small steps to avoid dangerous situations. I've been trying to recall the last instance of a street mugging right around here that ended in a shooting. The last one that immediately comes to mind was in 2006. There may have been others since that time, but my point it that it's EXTREMELY rare.
10:04,
I have no idea about the race of the victim. I think people are freaked out bk this appears to be a case where the victim did not know his attackers and was randomly targeted on the street.
The shooting of June Lim was very disturbing. That freaking out is here.
I imagine that people are "freaking out" because an innocent citizen got shot IN THE FACE for his iPhone. I don't give 2 shits what his race was. I don't want that crap going on in my neighborhood. I also don't want innocent shop-owners murdered over a few hundred bucks.
Inked, don't lecture about life in a CITY. I moved here after living in NYC for 10 years, and I guarantee you that if 2 people were murdered in close temporal and physical proximity in my old neighborhood, people would be "freaking out." Furthermore, I walked around NYC at night, with my phone out, or headphones in almost every day for those 10 years, as did my fellow New Yorkers, and we didn't have to worry about asshole kids beating or shooting us to steal them. This is not a CITY problem, it's a DC problem.
And no, I'm not going to pack up and move back to NYC, or out to the suburbs. I'm going to stay right here on H St., and "freak out" and raise hell every time a citizen is assaulted, mugged, harassed by antisocial jerks.
I concur. I feel much safer in NYC than in DC. I have walked in NYC at 3 am with my cell phone and a wallet full of cash on numerous occasions with no incidence and in various neighborhoods.
Inked at 8:10 - hear, hear
Perspective, in all things, is important. Freaking out may feel good, but hysterics do nothing to improve things, they make things worse. We, the community, need to show strength and resolve! Part of that is acknowledging (but not settling for) things as they really are. We knew this is a great and complex neighborhood where bad things still happen sometimes. It was like that when we all came here, be it last week, or 99 years ago. It'll be that way next year too.
We need to follow the lead of citizens who did not cry, panic, generalize, lash-out, but who worked together over the years to make the place better and safer. A part of that is that it's counter-productive (and a pet peeve) to blame the police after every incident like this. Hold them responsible for professionalism and service, yes, but the police did NOT perpetrate these crimes. Crime is down in DC to where it was 50 years ago. You can't blame the police for all the crime and then not acknowledge their part in the overall positive trend. I can only put myself in their shoes and think they'd probably prefer to work for a neighborhood of tough, level-headed people.
Finally, I wish the victim a swift and full recovery, and I want the thieves/murderers nailed.
12:02,
I'm not suggest that people should not be upset, simply that most of the time most people will be perfectly safe. To pretend we are prisoners in our own homes is histrionic. But to walk around a dark street completely unaware of your surroundings is unsafe. You might do it every night for ten years and escape unscathed, but I would not advise trying it.
Has a community meeting been scheduled yet to address these recent crimes? If not, we need to demand better folks! And this is definitely not a race issue, but class. I am a young professional black male and would love to beat the hell out of any young punks..black, white asian or hispanic, who harm others for sensless reasons! People, we are more alike than not! All of us demand better from our City Government and the lazy police who I NEVER see on foot patrol in the neighborhood!
Getting shot in the face for an iPhone is better in NY
Ok, they only shoot youin the backfor your iPhone in NY.
Anyway, everyone keep your eyes open out there.
12:02 here...
The response from the community should absolutely not be to cower in fear in our homes. The more people out and about walking and enjoying the neighborhood, the better.
Of course crime has gotten better, but we should work hard to make sure it continues to improve. These last couple of incidents along with the string of muggings for iPhones a couple months ago are setbacks that should be addressed.
"Freaking out," to me means getting on the phone to my council member, engaging our local police, and engaging with my neighbors to make sure we are all keeping an eye out for suspicious behavior.
As for being aware of one's surroundings, what are you suggesting? Hide your daughters and iPhones if you see black kids approaching? Run the other way? Really, what does that mean?
Boris is right. In NYC they will shoot you in the back, or maybe in the leg if you give chase.
And be careful wearing your headphones (even in NYC).
or perhaps more should be done by phone manufacturers .. who have the ability to geo locate your phone, but either dont offer the service after a theft.. or make you pay for it month to month.
or the service providers who dont register a phone by its serial number, so that when one is stolen, someone else can register the same phone.
Thanks for the links Inked! Maybe a little context to go with your snark:
From NYC and DC's reported 2011 crime stats
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/analysis_and_planning/seven_major_felony_offenses_2000_2011.pdf
http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1239,q,547256,mpdcNav_GID,1556.asp
For murder:
NYC: 6.2/100k
DC: 17.5/100k
For assault:
NYC: 224.2/100k
DC: 477.2/100k
For robbery:
NYC: 239.1/100k
DC: 607.8/100k
I'll probably keep my headphones in next time I'm walking around the Lower East Side, thanks.
or to go with your snark, if you extend your math to people per square mile, and total number of square miles of area of each city:
you're equally likely to be in the vicinity of a murder, more and likely to be in the vicinity of a robbery or assault in NYC.
since you're basing your displeasure of DC based on your proximity to crime, and extending that to your safety, i guess you better not go anywhere near new york city.
but go ahead and keep pretending nyc and dc have anything remotely similar about their makeup and deserve the kind of direct comparison you're speaking about.
shocker, if you have more density of people per block, your ability to police the area is easier.
1:39,
You're the one making the NY/DC comparison. I simply responded that such crimes can happen in NY, as well as in DC.
12:02,
I was thinking more along the lines of some of the specific steps I mentioned above. Things like taking busy streets instead of empty ones, choosing well lit sides of the street over poorly lit ones, not appearing distracted, and keeping your eyes and ears open.
All those crimes listed are mainly in the burrows. I was specifically referring to Manhattan.
This is a pointless tangent to be taking, but since we're already there:
Zip Code: 20003 (lower East Side, Manhattan)
Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) in 2004: $124,118
Zip Code: 20002 (H-Street, DC)
Average Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) in 2004: $43,444
http://www.city-data.com/zips/20002.html#ixzz1yYAXb95v
Now, let's look after each other, get involved, talk to your neighbors, call 911 if you see or hear anything!
Boris,
2004 H St. is not 2012 H St. But I'm sure median income is still waaaay below the LES.
I agree with all of your suggestions. I guess it's just tiresome to hear all of the "You're in the city. Things happen." talk. That is as helpful as people crying, panicking, etc. The dude was attacked walking on G St. NE. I live on G St. NE, so giving advice not to walk on streets such as G St. NE just isn't helpful.
Anywho, eyes on the prize. Let's look out for our neighbors and hold our public safety and elected officials to a high standard when it comes to neighborhood safety.
How do we get the police to walk our streets? WALK our streets AMONG US? WALK our streets!!
How do we get the police to be more of a presence in our neighborhood?
Who do we call/write to demand they patrol patrol patrol on FOOT. Or even on a bike which is better than the blur of a squad car racing down my street.
We all know if this violence was occuring in Chevy Chase, every cop in the city would be ringing our door bells asking to tuck us in at night.
This is MY neighborhood and I want to know what I can do to take it back from these THUGS!
3:10,
Nobody suggested that people avoid G Street. But if someone is choosing to walk five blocks on a darker & less busy street parallel to a well lit & busy street, I would suggest that they might want to rethink that strategy.
heyktb, no kidding. The only time I ever see police in my neighborhood is when they're charging the wrong way down my one-way street in their squad cars. Yeah, that's GREAT for public safety.
Honestly I've lived in DC for 10 years. I lived in Shaw for 4 years before it "got nice" and never have I ever felt as unsafe as I do in this area. Sometimes I think I made a big mistake buying here...
Hey anon,
Don't feel unsafe! You're not a prisoner in your own home. Just "rethink your strategy" of street walking.
Oh yeah, and walk with your eyes open, and make sure you're ears are clean and well-functioning. You're in a city, after all.
Wow, there's a lot here, but in the end hope the victim is okay. I don't think this crime or the other one means anything huge about a crime shift. I do think it's time we worked together vice lobbing each other with stats. Not my neighborhood but I think a community meeting showing the solidarity of all fokes in the region would not hurt.
Again, I hope the best for the victim
Let's all request (another) meeting with Chief Lanier because of this and the murder of the owner of Grace Deli, and use the opportunity to demand more foot/bike patrolling. I agree with Anon 4:05 -- very rare to see MPD walking among us. This would make a big difference compared to cruising around, or sitting around, in their cars. I also agree that other neighborhoods wouldn't put up with this so passively, and you would see MASSIVE police presence as a result in the wake of crimes like this. Don't just resign yourself to "things are better than they were," DEMAND change!!
One way to reduce crime is eyes on the street, if more people could make it a habit to sit on their front porch and read at night or listen to some music, we could do a lot to prevent crime.
Rocking out to some tunes while having a glass of wine in the evening will do a lot to end crime.
Leaving your porch lights on will also help
Here here 9:49! Stop by G b/n 6th and 7th most nights, and you'll see me sipping some whiskey on the stoop.
I think what we need is a multi-faceted approach.
1. People need to (& encourage others to do the same):
A. Take off headphone and be aware;
B. Keep electronics out of sight when walking at night;
C. Take well lit/populated streets;
D. Travel in groups when practical;
E. Turn on their porch lights;
F. Report burned out streetlights promptly;
G. Attend PSA meetings;
H. Call 911 if you hear/see something suspicious;
I. Keep alley brush trimmed;
J. Call/email your Councilmember;
K. Get to know your neighbors;
L. Report EVERY crime (no matter how small);
M. If you buy new electronics, cut the cardboard down into smaller pieces and place it in your recycle bin (not someone else's);
N. Report suspicious behavior. Loitering is not a crime in DC, but if someone appears to be dealing drugs, watching for potential mugging victims, casing a house (or business), or selling stolen merchandise, that person should be reported to MPD.
You can always email MPD on the email lists (you can call too). Keep your neighbors informed about what you see, and talk to them about it. Even if you are new, most neighbors want to know about any sort of street crime, or break-in. 911 is the default MPD number in DC, it is not reserved for emergencies only. Text 50411 with info if you wish to remain anonymous.
Above all, be safe.
May I also suggest everyone join and become active in the MPD 1st District listserve? This is a great way to directly communicate with the police officers serving our neighborhood. They are obviously very dedicated, and are quite responsive. The more neighborhood folks on there asking for things like more foot patrols, the more likely it is to happen.
From MPD list serve, no direct response re more foot patrols:
Q:
Given the 2 recent shootings in this area (the former at 7th and H St. NE), are there plans to increase police presence and foot patrols of the blocks surrounding H? If not, what other strategies are being considered?
A:
The PSA lieutenant has dedicated more resources in that area. Thanks for your concern.
Who do we contact/call/email to ask about the police presence. Can you please post the number (is it REALLY 911??), the email address or such that we can contact to voice concerns and ask questions?
When is the next meeting or is there a special meeting being held?
The last one I went to was crowded, but the police officer that was brought into to talk with us was stuck on making a point that we have a greater chance of getting hit by lightening than shot by a stray bullet. this did little to reduce concerns but did make me feel as if my concerns were being dismissed with lip service.
I respect the police and what they have to deal with on a daily basis, but I also KNOW from experience that our neighborhood is NOT being protected with the same voracity
the streets in NW are policed.
My roommate got jumped a couple weeks ago walking up the steps to my house. He was not wearing headphones or talking on the phone. They grabbed his wallet and iPhone out of his pockets (but left the Blackberry in its holster on his belt). There were three of them, and at least one was wearing a mask. There was a gun involved. My porch light was on, as well as several lights in the house (as I was home at the time). My roommate did resist a little, and got punched in the mouth. So you can be doing everything "right" and still get mugged b/c these thugs are getting more brazen.
My thoughts go out to the victim, and I hope the police catch the perpetrators quickly.
http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map
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