WASHINGTON — DC Police released the name of a 16-year-old shot and killed in Southeast, D.C. on the same day that it was confirmed the city had hit a grim milestone. More than 200 people have been murdered in the District so far this year.
Jamal Jones was shot several times outside the Glen Terrance Apartments on Green Street, SE just before 8 p.m. Monday, according to police. His death marked the District's 199th homicide with three months left in the year. Before the end of the day Tuesday, police had announced that the homicide number was over 200. D.C. recorded 203 homicides in all of 2022.
The news comes just one day before the DC Council holds a public hearing on the confirmation of Acting Police Chief Pamela Smith. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Robbie Woodland (ANC 8C) is one of 41 people scheduled to testify at Wednesday’s hearing.
“The council members need to take crime seriously that is happening right now in our city, and I don’t think that they do,” Woodland said.
The ANC said while the council is working to strengthen laws, city leaders and police need to work more aggressively on addressing D.C.'s most urgent needs and be real about the issues facing young people.
“The grooming is happening," Woodland said. "You have kids who have no family support, they’re living in trap houses and they’re living where drugs are being sold. These children are murderers. There are generations of them being killed So, we can no longer look at them like they’re average 12-year-olds, like they’re average 16-year-olds. They've been through some stuff, and unless we address this aggressively like a cancer then we’re not going to see change!”
Woodland said while Chief Smith wasn’t her first choice, she is pleased with how the chief is responding to crime. Still, the commissioner said it takes all city agencies, the council and police to reverse the growing crime crisis.
“Now is the time to present a united front and say what people don’t want to say -- that we need to get this in order and hold people accountable, hold parents accountable,” Woodland said.
National Housing Trust serves as one of the property managers at Glen Terrace Apartments. Raisa Johnson, Managing Director of Community Outreach and Impact, sent WUSA9 a statement in response to the death of Jones:
Our hearts go out to Jamal and his family. The recent wave of gun violence in Anacostia is unacceptable. We are waiting on police reports, but our understanding is the incident did not involve Galen Terrace residents. Galen Terrace does provide onsite security, and we are continually evaluating our security needs. We have always and will continue to work with our residents and neighbors to confront neighborhood challenges.
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