The Metropolitan Police Department has taken a suspect into custody in connection with a homicide in Northwest Washington, D.C. The deadly incident, described as a case of domestic violence, occurred on the morning of Sunday.
At around 8:49 a.m., officers from the Third District arrived at the 700 block of Girard Street, responding to a distressing call from a man claiming he had killed his significant other. Upon their arrival, they discovered an unconscious woman, showing signs of physical trauma and despite efforts from DC Fire and EMS to save her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was later identified as Maria Magdalena Ayala Guardado, a 35-year-old woman from the same Northwest neighborhood. The man who made the initial call to the police, and who remained at the scene until officers arrived, was arrested on suspicion of her murder.
He has been named as 42-year-old Mario Miguel Banegas Deras, also of Northwest, DC. After being transported to the Homicide Branch, he was charged with Second Degree Murder While Armed, the police investigation has led detectives to confirm that this tragic incident was indeed, domestic in nature, according to the official Metropolitan Police statement.
