One man was killed and another injured in a shooting in Northwest DC on Thursday night.
The shooting occurred in the 2000 block of Florida Avenue, north of Dupont Circle at around 9:30 pm, according to a police report. Police were responding to a report of gunshots in the area when they discovered a victim.
Another victim was discovered shortly thereafter, with one succumbing to his injuries while the other was taken to the hospital with critical injuries.
Speaking at a news conference posted on its Twitter account, DC police Commander Duncan Bedlion reported that the injured victim is currently in stable condition.
Commander Bedlion provides an update to the shooting that occurred in the 2000 block of Florida Avenue, Northwest. pic.twitter.com/68wv5C0GZJ
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) August 12, 2022
Commander Bedlion explained that they do not know what caused the shooting but believe a silver car may have been involved. There is also the possibility that there was more than one shooter.
Anyone with information should call the DC Police at 202-727-9099 or text at 50411.
Increased Gun Violence
Thursday’s shooting comes mere days after another shooting in Northeast DC on Monday night left one dead and five others with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to an MPD press release, the man killed was 24-year-old Lance Melvin of Southeast DC.
On Monday night, Police Chief Robert J. Contee III said at a press conference that the department was in “very preliminary stages of investigation” and did not know who was responsible.
“We’re really looking to the community at this point for information related to what happened here and why this occurred,” he said.
The shootings come amid an increase in shootings and other crimes in 2022. DC Police crime statistics show that 126 people have been killed so far, an increase of 12 percent over the same time last year.
Burglary and violent crime have risen five percent, while robberies have seen an increase of 20 percent, and motor vehicle thefts three percent.