WASHINGTON — DC Police have arrested three people in connection to a shooting that left one person dead and five others hurt in Southwest D.C. on Tuesday. All three people face first-degree murder charges, investigators said.
According to a spokesperson with the Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened just after 4:15 p.m. in the 200 block of M Street.
When officers arrived, they found two men who had been shot. One of the victims was conscious and breathing when help arrived, but the second was not conscious nor breathing following the shooting. He later died at the scene.
He was identified Wednesday as 32-year-old Matthew Miller, of Southwest, D.C.
Police say three more shooting victims walked into an area hospital looking for help.
All three of those men were later arrested, MPD said Wednesday.
They were identified as 22-year-old Keshawn Lavender, of Southeast, D.C.; 27-year-old Deandre Sams, of Southeast, D.C.; and 36-year-old Raymond Mathis, of Southeast, D.C. The were arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed.
A sixth person was also injured after falling from the fifth-floor ledge of the building, according to an incident report from MPD. He was conscious and breathing when first responders found them suffering from multiple fractures alongside the building.
In a press conference Tuesday evening, police said the shooting happened inside a residence in the area but did not say anything regarding any possible motive or what may have happened in the moments leading up to the shooting.
All six people reportedly knew each other prior to the shooting.
Kyle Hardell is visiting from Dallas and staying with a friend. He said he heard some commotion that thought sounded like a nail gun.
"At first, we thought it was construction," Hardell said.
He said he watched from a window as one person ran down an alleyway, holding their hand. Moments later, he said he heard multiple rounds of gunfire. After things became quiet, he and his friend went out to the elevator, where they made a gruesome discovery.
"When we opened the elevator door, there was a puddle of blood," he explained. "I immediately ran back to the unit."
Investigators collected evidence around the building Tuesday evening. Hardell and others who were inside the building say it's concerning.
"I've never experienced this before, so you know, I'm kind of just shaken," he said.
“I am grateful for the hard work and professionalism of our First District Patrol Officers and Homicide Detectives to quickly conduct a thorough investigation leading to the arrest of the suspects,” Acting Chief Pamela A. Smith said Wednesday. “The Metropolitan Police Department is working around the clock to protect this city and because of their dedication on this case, we were able to make numerous homicide arrests less than 12 hours later.”
Anyone with information may contact detectives at (202) 727-9099 or text the department's tip line at 50411.
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