WASHINGTON — An 18-year-old who was shot dead was discovered by a Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) employee Friday. Now, police are investigating who killed him and the circumstances surrounding his death.
Alexander Pavon-Rios, 18, was found just before 7 a.m. On Friday, DC Police told WUSA9 that Pavon-Rios's body was found in a vent shaft at the corner of Dunbar and Stanton roads Southeast. Officers responded to a report of the discovery of human remains and brought him to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, police said Friday.
The autopsy determined he was killed by gunshot wounds, and the death was ruled a homicide.
On Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson Tom Lynch clarified that Pavon-Rios was found in a wooded area adjacent to Metro property. Metro Transit Police also said Wednesday that the body was not found on Metro property.
"Metro's vent shafts are locked and not accessible to the public," MTPD said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pavon-Rios was reported missing on Halloween and had last been seen on Oct. 27, police said.
Detectives are searching for information about this homicide and are offering up to a $25,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.
If you know anything about this death, call police at (202) 727-9099 or text the Department's tip line at 50411.