Weekend Rundown: One Suspect in Deaths of Five Homeless Men in DC and NYC – Washington City Paper

Police in D.C. and New York City believe one man is responsible for shooting five men experiencing homelessness in both cities. Three men were shot in D.C., one of whom died. One of the two men shot in NYC over the weekend has died.

Mayor Muriel Bowser and New York City Mayor Eric Adams released a joint statement yesterday asking for information on the suspect and advising unhoused people to seek shelter.

Three of the shootings took place in Northeast D.C. from March 3 to March 9, and the two NYC shootings occurred over the weekend. The string of shootings follow repeated calls from unhoused residents and housing advocates for Bowser to stop or pause encampment clearings in D.C.

An Metropolitan Police Department statement released yesterday said Fifth District officers responded to sounds of gunshots at the 1100 block of New York Avenue NE on March 3 at about 4 a.m. On March 8 at 1:21 a.m., Fifth District officers responded to a report of a shooting at the 1700 block of H Street NE. In both cases, they found an unhoused man with non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

On March 9 at 2:54 a.m., an MPD officer noticed a tent fire near the 400 block of New York Avenue NE. DC Fire and EMS put out the fire and found the remains of a man inside the tent. An autopsy determined that the cause of death was multiple stab and gunshot wounds.

Similarities in the victims status and the assailants actions, as well as recovered evidence, lead police in both cities to believe theyre looking for the same suspect, according to MPDs statement. MPD and NYPD will work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to investigate the crimes.

Anyone with information should contact MPD at (202) 727-9099 or send a text to 50411. MPD is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect; the ATF Washington Field Division is offering another $20,000.

It is heartbreaking and tragic to know that in addition to all the dangers that unsheltered residents face, we now have a cold-blooded killer on the loose, but we are certain that we will get the suspect off the street and into police custody, Bowser and Adams said in their statement.

In other news

On Friday afternoon, an elderly driver crashed into a group of diners at the Parthenon Restaurant & Chevy Chase Lounge on the 5500 block of Connecticut Avenue NW. Two women from Northwest D.C., 73-year-old Terese Dudnick Taffer and 76-year-old Jane Bloom, died in the hospital. Six others were hospitalized, and three more people were treated and released.

D.C. police believe the incident was accidental, and said the driver was cooperating with investigators. The drivers name was not released. Pete Gouskos, owner of the longtime Chevy Chase restaurant, told WUSA9 that the driver was a regular diner for the past 20 years, and a very nice guy who would often come in for a glass of Coke, a burger, and to watch a sports game.Parthenon reopened after staff helped clean up the patio. The restaurants outdoor dining will reopen in time, Gouskos said.

Ambar Castillo (tips? acastillo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

By Ambar Castillo (tips? acastillo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

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Weekend Rundown: One Suspect in Deaths of Five Homeless Men in DC and NYC - Washington City Paper