District police make arrests in three murders

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By Megan Poinski

The Washington Times

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

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District police announced three arrests this week in three unrelated homicide cases that range from five months to a year and a half old.

Steven Vondell Williams, 46, of Northwest, was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder while armed in the June 14 death of 64-year-old Rockville resident Hae Soon Lim. Known to her customers as “June,” Lim owned Grace Deli on the 700 block of H Street Northeast.

Police found her dead behind the counter of her store early in the morning. She had a single gunshot wound to the neck. Internal police reports said the store’s cash register was open and empty and a holster was found in the store.

On Tuesday, police arrested 20-year-old Northeast resident David Tyrone Robinson and charged him with second-degree murder while armed in the Jan. 3 death of 21-year-old Southeast resident Howard Ricardo Sampler.

Police responded to the report of Sampler’s shooting in the 1500 block of 45th Street Northeast at about 6 p.m. on Jan. 3. When they arrived, Sampler was suffering from several gunshot wounds, including one to the chest. He died of his injuries after being taken to a hospital.

Also on Wednesday, police arrested 42-year-old Dennis Washington of Southeast in a different murder — the April 26, 2011 killing of 49-year-old Thomas Glenn Lipscomb.

At the time, police responded to a residence in the 3400 block of Minnesota Avenue Northeast for the report of a “foul odor.” They found Lipscomb, unconscious and unresponsive. An autopsy determined that he had been killed as a result of blunt-force trauma.

Mr. Washington has been charged with second-degree murder.

About the Author

Megan Poinski

Megan Poinski is the former deputy metro editor at The Washington Times. She has worked as a reporter, editor and web designer for more than a decade, covering mostly local, state and federal government in Ohio, Maryland and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Throughout her career, she has received reporting awards from the Scripps Howard Foundation, Capitolbeat, and Associated Press Managing ...