The U Street neighborhood in Northwest D.C. is busy and vibrant, but some residents tell News4 violence has been affecting their quality of life.
Residents said there have been plenty of meetings and discussions about crime in the area, but they’re looking for solutions and action so they can feel safer.
"Vehicles tearing around up on sidewalks, running red lights, making noise at 4 in the morning, people can't sleep. There's just a feeling that we've lost control of the streets," resident Jeffrey Willis said.
He moved to the neighborhood nearly two decades ago. On Monday he was concerned that he couldn't get more information about three violent crimes that happened there over the weekend.
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They include a stabbing on Saturday night, a double shooting early Sunday morning and a double stabbing a little more than an hour later.
Police arrested a Prince George’s County man, 19 year-old Jabari Vines, in connection with the shooting and charged him with carrying a pistol without a license and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device. They’re also looking for a second suspect captured in a surveillance photo.
"We're not looking to lock everybody up, but just, if people are making noise, if they're making trouble, we need to move them along and remind them that folks live here. Would you do this at your mother's house?" Willis said.
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Neighbors said although they know that living in a city will always bring traffic, noise and crime, the violence now feels different, and like it’s getting worse.
Some would also like to see tighter restrictions on some of the bars on 9th Street, and for police and elected leaders to do more.
“Living in the middle of the city is inherent with some risks. You understand that that's going to be part of your daily life. But the violence has gotten out of control,” Chris Schriever, who lives in Shaw, said. "And unfortunately right now, it doesn’t feel like the city government is doing anything to help us."
He’s looking for a more concentrated response to problems, including illegal parking, people partying in their cars and trash.
“I think once crime is under control, a lot of the other things will start to fall back into place, and we'll start having a more vibrant retail market and restaurant scene, and it'll feel a little safer on a day to day basis,” Schriever said.
