WASHINGTON — Police are investigating after three people were injured and one was killed in multiple shootings across Northeast D.C. on Monday.
The Metropolitan Police Department said that officers near the 4100 block of Hunt Place heard gunshots around 2:30 a.m. The officers followed the gunfire to a gas station where they found a man who had been shot. The man was conscious and breathing when help arrived. No suspect information has been released.
Just before 12:30 p.m., officers were called to the 2000 block of M Street. When officers arrived, they found a man had been shot. The victim was not conscious or breathing when helped arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was identified as 34-year-old John Coleman, of Northeast, D.C.
No suspect information has been released.
About 30 minutes later, officers were called to another shooting in the 600 block of Division Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a teenage boy who had been shot. The teen was taken to an area hospital for help and remains in stable condition.
Police describe the suspect as a man around 140 pounds, wearing a black mask, beige pants, a black jacket and New Balance shoes. He was last seen running toward 5201 Hayes St.
There is no word on a motive or what may have happened in the moments leading up to the shooting. MPD closed the roadway until further notice while officers investigate the shooting.
Another shooting was reported around 3:15 p.m. in the 4100 block of Minnesota Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a man had been shot in the arm. The man was taken to an area hospital for help and is expected to be OK.
Police say they are on the lookout for a small black four-door sedan with no tags in connection to the shooting.
Officers have not said that any of the shootings are connected.
All the recent violence has frustrated residents, like Mia Watts, who moved to DC’s Carver Langston neighborhood in 2018. She lives just yards away from the deadly shooting that happened on M Street Northeast.
She said she would move back to Virginia if she had the ability to do so. Watts added that she is worried about the wellbeing of her young child.
“And that is why I’m also trying to relocate because I don’t want her to get to the age where she’s going to be cognizant of what’s going on,” she said.
It just so happens Monday was the first day MPD implemented its newest community focused policing strategy, which involves getting more officers walking the streets.
"We are utilizing data to find areas in our city most impacted by crime” MPD Chief Robert Contee said.
However, Watts said she is skeptical the effort will work because police already monitor her neighborhood in their cruisers.
William Watts told WUSA9 new, stronger punishments are needed instead.
“They should bring in the three-strike rule,” he said. “You got three convictions, you going to jail. Simple as that.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives at (202) 727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.
Police are investigating two other recent shootings.
One took place just before midnight late Sunday in the 3800 block of Jay Street, Northeast. Police said they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
He was identified as 30-year-old Tyrone Hopkins, of Northeast, D.C.
And in Northwest D.C. on Monday evening, police were investigating a shooting in the area of 14th and S streets, Northwest. The shooting happened when a man on a scooter came upon three teens on a scooter who were trying to steal another scooter. Police say one of the teens shot the man and all three fled the scene.
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