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A 6-year-old girl was killed and five others were injured when a gunman opened fire on Friday night in a Washington, DC neighborhood a few feet from where police were stationed.
The gunfire erupted shortly after 11 p.m. Friday in the Congress Heights section of southeast Washington.
Nearby police officers responded to the scene about 34 seconds after the first shot and transported the girl to a local hospital in a police car, where she was pronounced dead, the department head said. of the Metropolitan Police, Robert Contee.
Washington DC, USA – April 12, 2015: Police vehicles stopping traffic and closing a street in Washington DC (iStock)
Police identified the girl as Nyiah Courtney. Three men and two women were shot and wounded which did not endanger their lives.
“We will do whatever it takes to bring this matter to a quick and professional conclusion,” Contee said at a press conference on Saturday.
Officials believe the shots – in what Contee called a “brazen” shooting – came from a passing vehicle. Police were due to release a video of the vehicle later Saturday and would offer a reward of up to $ 60,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case.
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“She was starting first grade this fall and now it won’t happen and frankly it’s unacceptable to me and it should be to all residents,” Contee said of the child.
Community members confronted Mayor Muriel Bowser and other city officials at the press conference, demanding they take immediate action against nearby liquor stores which they say attract violence In the region. They described several other recent shootings in the same area.
Bowser and Contee said the community should also help police try to reduce violence in the neighborhood.
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“The cowards who committed this crime entered this community with no regard for human life, no regard for Nyiah’s life and opened fire,” Contee said. “This cannot and will not be tolerated. It is time for us to say enough is enough.”
Washington, like many other major cities in the United States, is seeing an increase in violent crime and homicides. Homicides in the district are increasing for the fourth year in a row, with more than 100 murders already reported in 2021.
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While it is typical to see an increase in crime during the summer months, the national crime spike this year defies easy explanation. Experts point to a number of potential causes: the pandemic that has killed more than 600,000 people in the United States, concerns about the economy, large gatherings after months of home orders, intense stress and even the weather. hot.
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