A 14-year-old girl was fatally shot Saturday evening in Southeast Washington, kicking off a heavy police response in the Washington Highlands neighborhood and another round of painful questions about kids, guns and safety on city streets.
Police said they were called around 6:54 p.m. to the area of the 900 block of Barnaby Street SE for a reported shooting. A large number of officers converged on the scene, and a public information officer was sent to brief reporters. Investigators asked anyone with information to call 202-727-9099 or send anonymous tips by text to 50411.
Police response and investigation
According to WJLA, the Metropolitan Police Department posted on social media that officers were conducting a shooting investigation in the 900 block of Barnaby Street SE. The alert noted an active investigation and did not immediately include details about victims, suspects or a possible motive. A press conference was described as forthcoming while detectives remained on scene to process evidence and speak with potential witnesses.
Neighborhood context
The shooting unfolded in Washington Highlands, a neighborhood that has already been on edge over gun violence. In April, a deadly 2 a.m. shooting in the area underscored ongoing safety concerns for residents who say they are tired of seeing crime scene tape on their blocks. That backdrop makes the call for surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts especially urgent, as detectives try to reconstruct what happened on Barnaby Street.
Victim details and next steps
Reporting by WJLA states that the victim was a 14-year-old girl. The station reported that, according to its sources, other children had been exploring the area, found a firearm and the girl was struck in the head. Police have not confirmed those accounts and say the investigation is ongoing.
As detectives work to confirm how a gun ended up in kids' hands, officials again urged anyone who saw or heard anything, or who may have relevant doorbell or dashcam video, to contact investigators at 202-727-9099 or send anonymous tips by text to 50411.
