A young woman was shot to death on Sunday in Southeast DC, marking the first homicide committed in the District this year.
The 22-year-old was shot around 2:30 a.m. in the 3800 block of Wheeler Road, Southeast, on January 3. She was identified as Kaailyah Rainey of Southeast DC.
Officers with MPD’s Seventh District found Rainey inside a vehicle, in the 900 block of Wahler Place, Southeast, while responding to reports of gunshots sounds in the neighborhood. The woman was reportedly suffering from a gunshot wound.
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transported the victim to an area hospital, where she was pronounced dead after doctors failed to save her life.
MPD’s Homicide Branch are investigating the incident, the Department said in a statement.
Shooting in the 900blk of Wahler Pl SE. No lookout at this time.
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) January 3, 2021
The Department is currently offering a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrators of any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099 or anonymously send a text message to 50411.
A total of 198 homicides took place in the District in 2020, according to MPD’s data. The figure indicates a 19 percent rise from the 166 murders reported in 2019.