(Metropolitan Police Department)

Tuesday PM Update: The Washington Post and the Washington Blade both have more information.

TBD.com reports that a man was found stabbed to death on the 1100 block of 10th Street NW Monday evening around 6 pm. The block stretches from L to M Streets and is just north of Massachusetts Avenue. Police believe the death is a homicide.

If you have not been following the case of Lafonte Lurie Carlton, you should be. Washington Post columnist Colbert King has a column and there are several WaPo stories on Carlton, including this one, “Case Puts Focus on Release of Juveniles.”

The following blurb is from the Loose Lips column at The Washington City Paper, with a link to the Washington Post editorial on the case:

Read the full story

From today’s Washington Post: “Case Puts Focus on Release of Juveniles.”

An 18-year-old District resident was ordered held in city jail yesterday after being charged with second-degree murder in the slaying of another teenager last month.

Lafonte Lurie Carlton is not new to the legal system. City officials said he was found guilty of homicide three years ago and sent to the city’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services. His arrest last week highlights concerns among D.C. Superior Court judges who have been frustrated as they watch juveniles come to their courts after being released from the custody of Youth Rehabilitation Services. Judges, residents and police have said some offenders are released too soon.

Read Post article online.

The MPD Third District headuarters are at 1620 V Street NW. A substation in Columbia Heights serves PSAs 302 and 304. East Borderstan (east of 15th St.) is in PSA 307.

From MPD’s Inspector Edward Delgado on the MPD Third District listserv on Yahoo! Groups:

I am happy to report that the murder that happened in the 1300 block of Columbia Road NW earlier this month has been closed with the arrest of a juvenile male. I thank all partners within the community that helped with the closure of this case. In addition I want to thank members of the United States Police for the recovery of key evidence in this crime.  I can assure you that we will continue our presence in Columbia Heights Village Apartments. - Edward Delgado

Police have charged a suspect with two D.C. murders, one of them the Dec. 10 killing of Derrell Goins (Dec. 11 posting here) in Adams Morgan. Details from the MPD  news release follow, with information on the Adams Morgan murder highlighted in red:

Read the full story

An article from Thursday Washington Post on Squad 5, one of MPD’s eight homicide detective units—and the one with highest rate of case closures.

Read “Solving Homicides: Success on the Streets.”

This article,”Rise in Young Killers Worries D.C.,” appeared in yesterday’s Washington Post:

Even in a year in which the homicide numbers barely budged, D.C. police and prosecutors see signs that don’t bode well for the future: an increase in younger killers, apt to open fire on crowded city streets, who could not care less about the damage they cause. Many young suspects put their heads down and even try to sleep during interrogations, according to D.C. homicide detectives. Others seem cold inside, with no sense of reality.

Read entire story online.

Borderstanians: This information is from the Third District of the MPD. There is a $25,000 reward in the murder of Durval Martins; he was killed early Tuesday morning at 11th and Q NW:

” The Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Your assistance is appreciated by your community.”

Police are encouraging residents to print and distribute this MPD flyer on the case (PDF) from the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit . Full information from the MPD follows.

On Tuesday, December 16, 2008, around 3:06 am, Durval Martins was shot and killed while at the intersection of 11th and Q Streets, NW. The Metropolitan Police Department seeks the public’s assistance in gathering information regarding this incident. The case is under investigation by members of the Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, Homicide Branch. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call: Read the full story

The Washington Blade has the story on the 3 a.m. murder on Tuesday morning at 11th and Q NW:

A 35-year-old gay man was shot in the head and killed shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday at 11th and Q streets N.W., while walking home from the Fox & Hound, a restaurant and bar near Dupont Circle, according to D.C. police. The victim was identified as Durval V. Martins of the 200 block of Bates Street, N.W. A police statement said Martins also suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the body.  Go to article.

14th & You comments on the tragedy.

The 1500-block of Swann Street NW. (Photo: Luis Gomez Photos).

In case you somehow missed it… new developments last week in the 2006 murder of Robert Wone on the 1500-block of Swann Street NW:

• “3 Indicted In Alleged Coverup of D.C. Killing” (The Washington Post, November 21)
• “Bail request dropped for men charged in Wone murder; Price, Zaborsky plead not guilty to obstruction of justice” (Washington Blade, November 21)