WASHINGTON — People in the Brookland neighborhood and community are calling for change following the District’s latest homicide.
The Metropolitan Police Department said 14-year-old Avion Evans was shot and killed inside D.C.’s Brookland-CUA Metro station in Northeast on Thursday evening.
“Every day it’s a shooting, it’s a killing and our young kids even our sisters is getting killed,” D.C. Native Cedric said.
People in the Brookland neighborhood said they’re sad but not surprised at the city’s latest homicide.
“It breaks my heart because I look at it like these is babies,” Cedric said.
According to DC crime stats, there were three homicides this time last year compared to just one so far this year. However, the data shows robberies and auto thefts are up.
“This is the best area in D.C., you hear me. Nice clean and quiet, till the generation changed,” a Brookland neighbor native who didn’t want to be identified said. “I was born and raised in this neighborhood; we had the good times. We could come out stay and party we ain’t even have to lock our front doors back in those days, not no more. It’s just sad.”
A woman who didn’t want to be identified says she lost her son in this neighborhood when he was shot and killed during an armed robbery a few years ago.
“He was real nice, he ain’t bother nobody,” she said. “Every time I come around this neighborhood somebody got killed."
People are desperately calling for change, even during Thursday’s news conference about the most recent shooting.
“If these kids engage in criminal activity and you lock them up, you got to keep them locked up,” Adur-Rahman Muhammad said. “Period.”
WUSA9 asked Ward 5 Councilman Zachary Parker about the people who live in this community calling for more action, and more things to be done specifically for juveniles facing harsher consequences.
“I stand with neighbors that are calling for action,” Parker said. “I’m working directly with government partners, MPD, I will have a public safety meeting next week to address this incident and others.”
“The law is supposed to be a little stiffer to give them something to think about but our youngins ain’t scared of the law,” Cedric said.
WUSA9 crews saw an increased security presence at the Brookland-CUA Metro station, but some people said it’s too late for that. Meanwhile, Parker is hosting a public safety meeting next week for more people to voice their concerns.
RELATED: Police still searching for shooter after 14-year-old boy shot, killed at Brookland-CUA Metro station
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