WASHINGTON — The Lamond Recreation in Northeast D.C. should be busy, but instead, it sits empty, a silent reminder of recent violence right outside its doors.
DC Police were called to the rec center on Thursday night just before 8 pm to respond to a report of shots fired. When they arrived, officers found 14-year-old David Bailey, shot and unconscious.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and police are still looking for the shooter.
Marcus Ellis of Peace for DC works to prevent this type of violence from occurring in the District. He says although the victims and perpetrators of gun violence are most likely to be between 18-35 years old, it’s critical to step in even earlier.
“There’s a cycle of violence that needs to be broken,” he said. “The goal has to be to get that 12-14-year-old not to be in that category later on in their life, so diversion programs and things like that are important to get in front of some of the cycles that we see.”
He also says as tragic as last night’s shooting was, the impact of this kind of violence reaches out much further than a single victim.
“There were little girls in there playing basketball, doing all the right things,” Ellis says. “Something like that takes place, that sticks with them. What’s the impact on them and their parents and now, how they feel safe in their communities, and what’s that look like for them?”
DC Police also say a second person, an 18-year-old man, was shot in that same incident. Police say he’s in critical condition and is currently being treated for his injuries.
This is Ward 4’s ninth homicide this year, which puts it on par with the ward’s homicide total for the same time frame in 2023.
Now as police look for answers, folks are questioning just how safe this safe space is.
“I’m very afraid for my son, because he sits at the front desk, and he could’ve been killed,” admits Alicia Jefferson. “He’s just an innocent bystander. He has nothing to do with any of the activities that go on. This isn’t a high crime area, not that that’s an excuse for anyone getting hurt or anything, but I just feel bad for the families that were affected by this.”