A teenage boy was shot and hospitalized Friday night in Northeast Washington, D.C., after gunfire broke out near Rhode Island Avenue, according to police. Officers first raced to the 1300 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE around 9:31 p.m. for reports of shots fired and found signs that a shooting had taken place. A short time later, they located the wounded teen at 4th and W Streets NE. He was conscious and breathing when officers reached him and was taken to a hospital. Police have not released any suspect information.
Police response and victim status
Officers were initially dispatched to the 1300 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE after calls about gunfire at about 9:31 p.m., according to WJLA. When they arrived, they found evidence consistent with a shooting but no victim at the scene. The teenager was later found at 4th and W Streets NE, still conscious and breathing, and was transported for medical treatment.
Investigators have not released details about a suspect or possible motive and are asking anyone who saw or heard anything to come forward.
MPD announces youth curfew zone
In the broader backdrop of how the city is trying to keep summer nights in check, the Metropolitan Police Department recently announced a designated Youth Curfew Zone in the RFK Stadium area. That zone is scheduled to be in effect from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12.
MPD also reminded the public that the citywide juvenile curfew for July and August starts at 12:01 a.m. each night. Under city rules, the Chief of Police can carve out specific zones with earlier curfew hours that apply to groups of youths, which is what the department has done near RFK.
Summer context
The latest shooting lands in the middle of a tense summer in the District, as officials and neighbors try to navigate large youth gatherings that sometimes spill over into violence. Local outlets have chronicled several recent incidents, including a May shooting in Tenleytown that left an 18-year-old in the hospital while police searched for a group of juveniles, as reported by FOX 5 DC.
Residents and city leaders say measures like the curfew zone and targeted enforcement are aimed at dialing down those flashpoints before they turn into more nights like this one.
How to help
Anyone with information about Friday's shooting is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099 or text anonymous tips to 50411, according to MPD. Investigators say video, photos or firsthand observations could be crucial and are urging witnesses to share what they know with detectives rather than trying to investigate on their own.
