WASHINGTON -- A 20-year-old is dead after being shot in Monday afternoon in Northeast, D.C.
Randall Francis, of Southeast, D.C., was shot and killed in the 1800 block of Benning Road, Northeast.
On Wednesday, police released the identify of the suspect in Francis' death along with a photo. Police are offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of 20-year-old Malik Morris.
Police say they responded to a call at 1:49 p.m. on Monday for a report of gunshots. Once at the scene, they found two adult male victims suffering from multiple gunshot sounds.
Francis was pronounced dead at the scene. The second victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
ANC Commissioner Kathy Henderson released a statement Monday night, writing that Francis was a “model, photographer and intelligent young man with a bright future that was deciding which college to attend.” She also wrote that he was a graduate of Eastern High School.
According to Henderson, this is the third homicide in the area in 100 days. She says local businesses captured footage of the suspect and called for emergency legislation in response to the shooting.
Full statement below:
"Randall Francis, a recent valedictorian and graduate of Eastern H.S. was gunned down in the 1800 block of Benning Rd in the afternoon on November 26, 2018. The murder appears to be related to a petty dispute. Thankfully, local businesses The Food 7 Store and Sylvia’s Liquor Store captured clear footage of the suspect, which we expect to be apprehended quickly. Randall Francis was a model, photographer and intelligent young man with a bright future that was deciding which college to attend. His is the third homicide in this area within 100 days, which is also the site for seemingly incessant gunfire. Residents are terrified and an entire family is grieving, including a sworn member of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) over the tragic ending of Randall Francis’ young life. Randall’s grandmother Deborah Smith stated: “There was no reason to kill my grandson, who attended church every Sunday and was good person. I can’t believe someone would do this…”
The 1500-1800 blocks of Benning Rd are often congested with individuals selling drugs and single cigarettes; many of the individuals do not live in the community and cause community residents to live in constant fear. Several residents in the areas around the 1500-1800 blocks of Benning Rd say they are afraid to leave their homes. One resident who only wishes to be identified as “Kim” says, “The police are parked on the corner, yet we still have shootings and I am scared…” Commissioner Kathy Henderson calls on Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, who chairs the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety to draft emergency legislation to allow MPD to clear the block of any individuals that are congregating, selling illegal drugs and single cigarettes. Such persons wait for the officers to change shifts and engage in criminal acts, underscoring that MPD needs additional tools to fight what is becoming a perpetual “crime hot spot”. Rates of crime here increased after the Summer Crime Initiative concluded on August 1, 2018. Commissioner Henderson says, “We need every available tool to fight increasing crime in this community. I expect Councilmember Allen and his colleagues to work with Deputy Mayor Kevin Donahue to draft and enact emergency legislation that will protect my community; we need this now to help MPD help us.”
The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by sending a text message to 50411.
