2 shootings in Southeast DC as council ramps up discussions on public safety bills
WASHINGTON (7News) — There were two shootings in D.C. Wednesday night – one deadly – just as the D.C. Council ramped up discussions on public safety bills.
One man died after a shooting in the 2300 block of S Street, Southeast around 7 p.m., according to Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officials.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man who they said was “unconscious and not breathing.”
Homicide detectives were called as police remained on scene to investigate the incident, officials said.
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According to officials, no suspects are in custody at this time. They have not yet released the circumstances leading up to this shooting, as of time of publication.
A man was injured in a second shooting Wednesday night in the 2900 block of Knox Place, Southeast, officials said around 9:20 p.m.
Officers said when they arrived on the scene, they found a man “unconscious and not breathing,” and homicide was notified.
Detectives are investigating this latest shooting as D.C. Council ramps up discussions on public safety bills.
On Wednesday, the D.C. Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety continued their public hearing that began last week on three major bills:
- Improving Safety and Emergency Response on Transit Corridors Act of 2023, which would establish a two-year demonstration program during which the city will install emergency communication and video surveillance systems at public transit stations across the city.
- Safe Commercial Corridors Amendment Act of 2023, which would allow the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety and Justice to provide grants to business districts so they can implement public safety solutions.
- Whole Government Response to Crime Act of 2023, which would require the mayor to collect and publish firearm tracing data, requires the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement to study the effectiveness of violence reduction programs, establish a Victim Services Coordinator within the Office of Victim Services, create a 911 System Improvement Task Force to study the effectiveness of the Office of Unified Communications 911 system, among other measures.
Councilmember Robert White introduced the third bill, and told 7News on Wednesday it addresses issues he finds in the current system that contribute to crime in the District.
"What I'm saying is fix those gaps before you pile on top of a broken system," White said. "We're spending a lot of money on public safety. The administration doesn't want to do things differently, and there's some major gaps in the infrastructure of our public safety system that are causing crimes to go unaccounted for."
Hours before Wednesday's shooting in Southeast D.C., 7News On Your Side asked White how his bill would address public safety in the short and long term.
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"Hundreds of people a week are calling 911 and not getting an answer. I want to fix the 911 system. The Department of Forensic Sciences has lost accreditation, which means federal prosecutors can't prosecute most cases. I want to fix that. I want to track where guns are flowing from into our city. Are there particular states, particular gun stores? We can use that data to focus on those pipelines," White said. "This is a bill that diagnosed what's wrong and is trying to fix what's wrong, not just throw things against the wall and see what sticks."
D.C. has seen its most homicides since 1997, more than two decades ago.
Total crime across the city has increased by 27 %, with violent crime soaring by almost 40 % compared to the same time last year.
"I don't like where we've been these past couple of years. Residents don't like it. Business owners don't like it," White said. "We've got to do something different. I think we can't wait for the mayor and her team to figure it out. They're proposing ideas on top of a broken system. I don't think that's the right method. Let's fix what's broken first. I think that's what the council is intent on doing. Then people will see changes. We will reverse this tide because we have to."
White told 7News the Council will likely pick discussions on these bills back up shortly after the new year begins.
In the meantime, he is pleading for patience from the communities impacted by the growing crime.
"This problem didn't happen overnight. Anybody who tells you they can fix it overnight isn't being straight with you. But we can fix it pretty quickly if we are focused on the right things," White said. "Dont' leave the city yet. Give us time for the council to implement some changes."
Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call 202-727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Check with 7News for updates.