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Woman walking home from grocery store robbed at gunpoint, but too dark to give suspect description

A robbery victim in Northeast, D.C. wants better lighting in her neighborhood after she was robbed at gunpoint.

WASHINGTON — A woman in Northeast, D.C. is raising awareness about what she says is inadequate street lighting in her neighborhood after she was robbed at gunpoint.

Madeline Barnes was walking home from a grocery store on South Dakota Avenue earlier this month. She crossed the intersection near Farragut Place when a man approached her. 

"He followed me for a little bit," Barnes said. "He told me I dropped something and I ignored him and kept walking. He asked for my purse and again, I ignored him and kept walking. He said, 'Do you want to do it this way?' I turned around and saw a gun so I handed over my purse."

The incident happened around 7:30 p.m. and took about 30 seconds. Barnes said it was hard to make out a physical description because of how dark it was on the street. DC Police said the case remains under active investigation. 

"Even though he didn't have a hood or mask on I could barely see details," she said. 

Barnes said she shared the concerns with other neighbors about the street lighting. Although there is lighting, Barnes described it as being too dim. 

Other complaints have reached Councilman Kenyan McDuffie's office, even before the incident. The council member's office has reached out to the District Department of Transportation to address the concerns. Quick fixes include LED lighting, which can be a cheaper alternative. 

The office is planning to follow-up to find out a timetable on remedies. 

"It's a simple ask," Barnes said. "I mean there are kids who walk to the Metro on their own and I want them to feel safe and single people walking home and I want them to feel safe."

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