A man carrying an infant and holding the hand of a second child was shot and killed Friday morning in Northeast D.C., police say.
The man, 42-year-old Sedrick Miller of Northeast, was found with multiple gunshot wounds in the 2300 block of 18th Street NE at about 8:30 a.m., police said. The location is north of New York Avenue.
Miller was carrying the infant and grasping the hand of a 5-year-old boy, Executive Assistant Chief of Police Ashan Benedict told reporters. He was shot at close range, and the children were uninjured.
“It appears he was targeted by this shooter. This individual walked up, shot him with the children right there,” Benedict said, according to preliminary information.
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“It’s one of the most horrible things we’ve had in the Fifth District in several years,” Fifth District Cmdr. William FitzGerald said.
The infant was in a car seat at the time of the shooting, he said.
The children are now in the care of their mother, FitzGerald said.
Neighbors were horrified and outraged to learn of the killing.
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“Stop this violence!” resident James Robinson cried. “There’s no need for this. No need for this. I feel so bad for the kids.”
“I know the kids will be scarred forever because of that,” neighbor Jasmine Johnson said.
Information was not immediately released on whether Miller was the children's father.
A utility crew responded to the crime scene after a bullet hit a gas meter. They needed to remove the bullet and replace the meter. Several families had no hot water during the work.
Police are seeking the shooter, and a homicide investigation is underway. Anyone with information is asked to contact police. Tips may be made anonymously.
