DC's Own War Zone

Residents in parts of the District's Shaw area are under attack again! Here's the latest from some of the activists.

From: Cary Silverman who wants to unseat longtime incumbent Jack Evans on the DC Council...

"Yesterday, I posted an unreported incident in which 31 shots were fired in the heart of Ward 2 on Monday in the mid-evening - fortunately, no one was hurt". "Well, at 7:30pm last night, it happened again, and this time there were injuries: a 16-year-old boy shot six times in the back and a 22-year-old man also hit". "Both are expected to survive.This incident, in a residential neighborhood across the street from the Washington Convention Center, received barely a mention in the media".

A local blogger has more photos and details here. It is the 4th shooting in this area in 10 days.

"This was most likely a gang-related incident, but it is only a matter of time before an innocent bystander gets caught in the crossfire".

What needs to happen now, according to Silverman:

New leadership for PSA 308.

Immediate installation of Shot spotter to cover high-crime areas in Ward 2.
Additional foot beats, as promised, with officers who speak with residents on the street and door-to-door, and who talk with those who are loitering in the area and investigate any suspicious or potentially gang-related activity.
Additional anti-gang unit resources allocated to Ward 2.

We'll get a response from Councilman Evans and post it here shortly...we'll also check back with the Alliance of Concerned Men who helped broker a gang truce months ago to find out what has gone wrong. Stay tuned.