WASHINGTON — Safety is once again of top concern for many residents and business owners in Adams Morgan after two people died in separate shootings over the weekend.
DC Police are investigating a shooting that killed an 18-year-old on Euclid Street on Saturday night. Officers responded to the location after someone reported that a person was hit by a car. When they arrived, they found a man who had been shot.
Not even 24 hours earlier, another shooting along 18th Street near Belmont Road killed 30-year-old Avon Perkins of Baltimore. A woman was also injured after being hit by a stray bullet during the shooting.
Bill Duggan of Madam's Organ was outside with about a dozen other people when he witnessed the gunman kill Perkins. Duggan recalls hearing one gunshot behind him.
"I turned around I saw the man falling backwards from the shot and the shooter was still there with his hand stretched out," Duggan said. "I horribly saw him shoot him another four times in the chest."
Duggan recalled telling everyone to get down but in doing so, he claimed the suspect pointed the gun towards him. He hid behind a sign from the business next door.
"I dove for cover because I don't know if I've ever seen a gun pointed to me like that and especially by someone shooting that hot," he said.
Duggan was unable to get a good description for the gunman who was last seen running north towards Columbia Road.
Duggan is glad to be safe but he immediately expressed his frustrations on social media. He felt the city could add more and consistent police presence in the area.
"For the last year and a half, we've literally had no police, no detail, just to keep an eye so things don't get out of hand," Duggan said. "It's something I've been raising hell about for the past year and a half to deaf ears, and it's unfortunate someone had to die for them to listen."
Duggan claimed after he reached out to the Mayor's Office of Nightlife and Culture (MONC), he received assurance police would be back.
Councilwoman Brianne Nadeau said her office is working with the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement on potential investments needed. She said the Adams Morgan BID has recently convened members to discuss public safety and plans to hire an additional safety ambassador. Additionally, Nadeau said the MONC had indicated it might offer some sort of active threat preparedness training to businesses that are interested.
"I am incredibly saddened by these losses and by this violence in our community, and I offer my condolences to the families of the deceased," she said in a tweet.
The councilmember hosted community office hours Monday to address additional constituent concerns.