(Corrected at 10:51 p.m. with proper neighborhood) A man was arrested and charged yesterday in connection with the death of an infant in Petworth, say D.C. Police.
Police announced yesterday evening that they had arrested 28-year-old Robert Smith Sr. from Northwest D.C. and charged him with first-degree felony murder in connection with the death of five-week-old Robert Smith Jr.
Police say officers and emergency personnel from D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the 3700 block of 9th Street NW for the report of an unconscious person two weeks ago on Aug. 4 around 3:43 pm.
Upon arrival, crews found a five week-old infant “unconscious and unresponsive.” The infant was transported from the scene to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police say the District’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined the cause of death to be a homicide caused by “multiple blunt force injuries.”
Information on Smith Sr.’s lawyer wasn’t immediately available.
(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:
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.
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:
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.
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.
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: (more…)
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)
Here is the news release from the DC MPD (below). The Washington Blade has a story here. At this point, the police do not believe the murder was an anti-gay hate crime. The murder occured near the gay club, Be Bar, which is located at 1318 9th Street NW, in DC’s Shaw neighborhood.
The MPD news release:
On October 15, 2008, members of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPDC) Joint Fugitive Task force located and arrested 18 year old Robert Hanna, who was being sought pursuant to a District of Columbia Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Voluntary Manslaughter, related to the death of Tony Randolph Hunter.
Members of the MPDC’s Homicide Branch, particularly Detectives Jacqueline Middleton and Jed Worrell, along with members of the Joint Fugitive Task Force, worked tirelessly to ensure the capture of Mr. Hanna. Chief Lanier held a press conference this afternoon, during which she thanked members of the community who had cooperated with investigators and also the countless tips that were forwarded to investigators using the MPDC’s TIP line.
Of particular interest to members of the GLBT community, Chief Lanier stated the case was thoroughly reviewed by prosecutors at the United States Attorney’s Office and there is no evidence to support a hate crime enhancement (editor’s emphasis). Furthermore, Chief Lanier indicated the initial suspected motive of robbery was eventually determined by investigators to not be correct and that the death of Mr. Hunter resulted from an altercation between Mr. Hunter and Mr. Hanna, during which Mr. Hunter suffered injuries which lead to his death.
Mr. Hanna will be presented in the District of Columbia Superior Court, at which time a judge will determine if he will be released or jailed pending the judicial process.
