w-t-f!!!

[I drink CH kool aid]

Two Shot in Columbia Heights: WJLA
Two men were shot outside the Five Guys restaurant in Columbia Heights, according to a report on WJLA's web site.

[domrep]

This explains why there were like 6 TV trucks out in that area this afternoon. I had no idea what was going on, I thought this was going to be one of those puff pieces about the re-development of the area.

Two gang members, were fighting on the Metro and one of them pulled out a gun.

[kenyonstreet]

Sucks that again a couple of lowlife scum from our neighborhood are the talk of the town. Here's Councilman Graham's email on the subject. It's amazing how the youth employment program attracted such violent kids but, to me, it shows how badly the program is needed!


Dear FRiends, this has been all over the media. SO I am not going to describe in great detail what happened. Suffice it to say, that two persons (one the apparent intended victim and another who was grazed as an innocent bystander) were wounded. This is profoundly disturbing in an area where we have made such substantial progress in terms of jobs, prosperity and growth in the past few years.

Let me be clear about what I know from MPD and Metro Transit Police sources.

First, this was a beef between members of two youth gangs. They had been fighting since boarding the Metro train at the Convention Center. It finally spilled out on the street when they reached Col Hts, and the shooting occurred.

Second, they had attended--sad to say--a large meeting at the Convention Center for the summer youth employment program…something that is an important part of addressing the root causes of gang violence. (I am among the strongest supporters of the summer employment program., having established and funded --now in its 9th year--Ward One ProUrban Youth DC, which this summer has 600 Ward 1 youth registered in good summer jobs. I have had young gang members work in my office, with good results as part of this program.)

Third, there were various problems at the Convention Center. Metro Police tells me that they seized on the street one revolver and a pair of brass knuckles and that there were problems at various other stations.

Fourth, there were cameras, security, police, eyewitnesses all over the place at the Col Hts metro…all of that is being reviewed, and hopefully with all of that the shooter will be soon identified and arrested.

I support addressing the root causes of gang and youth violence. However, I am absolutely convinced that at least on a short term basis--and as part of a comprehensive approach --we need tougher criminal laws. That is why I voted yes on the Mayor's criminal injunction proposal this past Tuesday. More on that later today.

Bests Councilmember Jim Graham

[Mr. T]

What I don't get is, if police confiscated a gun and brass knuckles earlier, why did they not arrest those kids on the spot? Did they just take away the weapons and say "ok, you're free to go now?" Not that that would have stopped the shooting that eventually did happen, but would have made sense anyway.

[New2CH]

I read somewhere, Mr. T, that they found them in a street sweep or something. I am guessing kids saw the cops and quickly ditched them. Not that it would have mattered, with the juvenile justice system the way it is in DC, they could have just held onto them and suffered virtually no repercussions ...