14 shootings an ‘aberration’

D.C. police say five shootings that killed a man and wounded 13 persons Wednesday night and early yesterday are an “aberration.” But the shootings highlight a spate of violence that has pushed the city’s homicide rate above one per day for the past three weeks.

There have been 20 killings in the past 19 days through yesterday afternoon, according to D.C. police.

So far this year, there have been 163 killings in the District, compared with 153 at this time last year. The city finished last year with 262 killings, the most since Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey assumed his post in 1998.

“The mayor was obviously disturbed at the many shootings that occurred,” said Margret Nedelkoff Kellems, deputy mayor for public safety and justice. “It’s a great concern and it was a terrible night in this city.”

The escalating homicide rate was one of the concerns D.C. Council members expressed during June hearings on a pay raise for Chief Ramsey. The council approved a $25,000 pay raise to $175,000 annually for Chief Ramsey, but it did not approve a four-year contract he signed with Mayor Anthony A. Williams.

Assistant Police Chief Brian Jordan said the shootings don’t appear to be related to each other, or to feuds among rival Hispanic gangs that claimed four lives in the past three weeks. He said police have no suspects in any of the shootings.

Four of the shootings occurred in Northeast and one in Southeast.

Five women and three men were wounded during one multiple shooting at about 2 a.m. outside Deno’s nightclub in the 2300 block of Bladensburg Road NE.

“None of the injuries was life-threatening and the ages of the victims were between 17 and 24 years,” Chief Jordan said. “It appears all of these were just random victims.” He said the gunshot wounds were primarily in the lower body.

Police said that shooting appears to be the result of an altercation, but victim accounts vary as to how many shooters were involved. Police said they have interviewed about 100 witnesses who were at the club, but many were uncooperative.

Shortly after the nightclub shooting, a 23-year-old man was shot in the neck and killed at about 2:15 a.m. in an alley behind the 300 block of 13th Street NE. Police yesterday had not released the man’s identity.

Police also are investigating two other shootings in Northeast.

A 41-year-old woman and her 21-year-old daughter were shot and wounded, one in the arm and the other in the lower back, at about 10:50 p.m. near the 1200 block of Oates Street NE. There was no word on their condition yesterday.

Two young men driving south on Kenilworth Avenue near Polk Street NE were shot, one in the wrist and another in the chest. Police said the shooter may have struck from an overpass.

The men told police they were lost after taking a friend home and could not give an exact location where the shooting occurred. They were able to drive the car to a nearby fire station. D.C. police are investigating the incident, but it is not clear whether it actually occurred in the District or Prince George’s County.

A 37-year-old man was shot in the leg and stomach in the 700 block of Atlantic Street SE. His wounds were not considered life-threatening.

“Each and every one of these cases is being actively investigated by our violent-crimes and gangs units,” Chief Jordan said. He said police have increased patrols and visibility in the areas where the shooting occurred, but stressed that officers need witnesses to come forward.

“We can be right there at a location, but as soon as we leave, if they’re intent on carrying out an assault, they’re going to do it,” Chief Jordan said.

Police are offering rewards of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those responsible for the nonfatal shootings. Information leading to an arrest and conviction in the homicide could result in a $25,000 reward.