D.C. Reaches 200th Homicide This Year: First Time Since 2003

On Monday night, Washington, D.C., accounted for its 200th homicide this year, reaching a number the area hasn’t seen since 2003. 

As reported by The Washington Post, “A man was fatally shot at a gas station in Southeast Washington just after 10:15 p.m., becoming the latest victim of months of rising violence that has frustrated and angered city leaders and residents. Police have not yet publicly identified him.”

The outlet continued, “Homicides rose in 29 major U.S. cities through September compared with the same period last year, according to the Council on Criminal Justice, a Washington-based institute.” 

D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee III said getting to 200 homicides was “very troubling,” stating “lives that matter in our city were unnecessarily taken away too soon,” per the Post. 

The outlet added, “[t]here are nearly 200 fewer D.C. officers this year than last year, according to the department, the lowest in two decades.”

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