WASHINGTON — In parts of D.C., deadly violence is still the biggest concern during this pandemic. On Saturday, a 71-year-old woman was shot and killed in Southeast, D.C., while trying to break up a fight. Authorities identified the victim as Sheila Lucas.
Police said a fight started outside a grocery store in Southeast involving Lucas' granddaughter, and when she stepped in to try and break it up, she was shot and killed, police said.
Officers were called to the 1600 block of Savannah Street in Southeast around 8 p.m. Saturday, where they found Lucas and a man both suffering from gunshot wounds.
"It doesn't make sense for somebody to take her life," Lucas' daughter, Charlene Jones, said. "It's not fair to us. Somebody robbed us of the rest of the years that we had left with her. No COVID, no cancer, no diabetes. A bullet to the head."
Lucas was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after, police said. The second unnamed victim was also taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Metropolitan Police Department Chief Peter Newsham said Tuesday that Lucas raised a large family on her own, previously worked as an assistant nurse and was a great-grandmother.
"That was our world," Lucas' son, Robert Alston, said. "When I say the biggest cheerleader for her children and great-grandchildren."
Detectives with D.C.'s homicide branch are investigating the crime and are asking for the public's help.
"Eventually, we will be at peace, but we can't be while the killer is still out there," Jones said.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411.
D.C. police currently offer a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.