TL/DR –
A teenager was fatally shot on a platform at the Brookland Metro station in Northeast Washington. The teen was killed during a fight with other youths by an unrelated individual who pulled out a gun and fired. This incident marks the second time a juvenile has been killed in the district this year and represents ongoing concerns about violence among young people, which Washington officials have vowed to reverse.
Teen Fatally Shot at Brookland Metro Station in Northeast Washington
A teenager tragically lost his life in a shooting on Thursday afternoon at the Brookland Metro station in Northeast Washington, a time when the area was busy with students who had just finished their school day. The teen was in a fight with other youths when an uninvolved individual drew a gun and fired, according to Metro Transit Police Department Deputy Chief Maurice McKinney.
The incident transpired just before 4 p.m. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority reported on Twitter that trains temporarily avoided the station. Nearby Catholic University advised students to shelter in place due to an “active threat,” as stated on the school’s website.
An armed security guard at the station successfully shielded patrons and led them to safety, added McKinney. By evening, police were still looking for a male suspect with a black jacket, light blue jeans, and a gray backpack. A picture of the suspect was posted on the D.C. police department’s Twitter.
Addressing the media, D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith emphasized the city’s need to assess “how our young people are engaged in conflict resolution.” This tragic incident marks the second juvenile to be killed in the District and the first homicide inside a train station this year. In 2023, a year marked by heightened violence within the Metro system and among children and teens, public safety officials pledged to reverse these grave trends.
In an effort to reduce crime, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) stated she would enhance police presence at certain Metro stations. Just yesterday, she proposed a bill to urge the Office of the Attorney General in D.C. to prosecute children and teens committing certain crimes more aggressively and address all truancy cases.
Despite these alarming incidents, killings in the city have decreased by 32 percent this year compared to the same period in 2023, according to latest police data. However, concerns regarding safety remain among residents. One resident, Abdur-Rahman Muhammad, called for stricter measures against “young people who have guns and use them.”
In response, Smith referred him to the truancy and public safety bill introduced by the mayor.
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