WASHINGTON — In a Northwest D.C. neighborhood unsettled by gunfire, neighbors took to the streets Tuesday in a walk demonstrating defiance and unity.
The walk followed a violent weekend in the area. Early Saturday morning, a young man was shot to death and seven others were wounded in the 100 block of Q Street Northwest.
Monday afternoon brought more gunfire: Not far from North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue Northwest, about a block away from the first shooting, at least 20 shots were fired. No one was wounded, but that was small consolation for neighbors.
“I’m concerned about the crime and senseless killing between us and us,” said one resident taking part in the walk.
The event also was aimed at bringing attention to the issues that foster criminal activity, such as vacant properties and youth joblessness, said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Bradley Thomas.
“We have young people just sitting around all day with nothing to do. They’re going to get in trouble when that happens,” Thomas said.
He also cited the availability of firearms. “There are too many guns on the street. … That’s [not just] our community’s problem,” he said.
D.C. police Chief Peter Newhsam also joined the neighbors Tuesday afternoon.
“This is a beautiful neighborhood. We can’t tolerate this thing happening here,” Newhsam said.
He also appealed to the public, asking that if anyone has any details on Saturday’s shooting death to share them with police. Two young men have been arrested for Monday’s shooting, but police don’t know whether it’s connected to the fatal shooting of Algernon Harvey Jones, 32, of Southeast D.C.
“We are going to get to the bottom of this,” Newsham said.
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