Year in Review 2013

Every day Homicide Watch brings you the most up-to-date news available on DC homicides: reporting on new crimes, arrests, court proceedings and more. Now, as 2013 draws to a close, it’s time to look back on what we’ve learned.

This special 2013 Year in Review package features interviews, investigative reports, charts, roundups and more, all exploring this year in D.C. homicides. We also look ahead to what’s in store next year, particularly at DC Superior Court where several high profile murder cases are scheduled for trial in the first weeks of the year.

We Remember: A Letter from Homicide Watch DC

In April it will be three years since D.C. teen Raheem Jackson was killed. Many others, young and old, have been killed since, but it’s Jackson who I most often think about as I report and edit for Homicide Watch D.C. In nearly three years, his words have never left me. Walking Benning Road at … Read more →

2013: Ten Cases That Captured Our Attention

Homicide Watch is devoted to bringing you the most up-to-date news on DC homicides. This includes: court proceedings, reporting new crimes, arrests, etc. Now that 2013 is coming to a close, let’s take a look back on the ten cases that captured our attention this year. This list of ten cases was created based on … Read more →

After ‘Dramatic Drops’ in Homicide Rate, MPD Chief Cathy Lanier Says Now Department ‘Has To Fight Harder’

After five years, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier says that her strategy to reduce murders in Washington D.C. is on the right track, despite an increase in the number of homicides during 2013 compared to the total for 2012. That increase can largely be attributed to this year’s mass shooting at Washington Navy Yard … Read more →

2013: Homicide Posters

For many homicides, MPD releases a public poster with information about the crime and rewards for information leading to arrests. The collection of 2013 posters is below. 2013 MPD Homicide Reward Posters (PDF) 2013 MPD Homicide Reward Posters (Text) Read more →

Homicide in 2013: By the Numbers

As part of our special Year in Review series, we parse out data related to this year’s homicides. The numbers in this story are pulled from Homicide Watch D.C.’s database, unless otherwise noted. For more detailed information, use the sorting features on ourvictims and suspects databases or explore our map. In 2013, 105 people were … Read more →

Video: MPD Chief Cathy Lanier on 2013 Homicides

After achieving a milestone in 2012 with less than 100 homicide victims in a year, the District of Columbia will see an increase in the number of murders in 2013. On Dec. 9, police chief Cathy Lanier sat down with Homicide Watch D.C. reporters Megan Arellano and Clara Pak to speak about homicides in 2013. … Read more →

Questions and Hurt Linger After Dismissed Homicide Cases

When Latorya Lisenby went to D.C. Superior Court in August for the preliminary hearing of man accused of killing Mikey Ledbetter, her friend and former romantic interest, she sought peace. But when the judge in the case didn’t find probable cause and the case was dismissed without charges being pressed, her relief turned to frustration. … Read more →

Video: US Attorney Ronald Machen on 2013 Homicide Convictions

On December 9, U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen sat down with Homicide Watch D.C. reporters Ivan Natividad and Clara Pak. Looking back at all homicide cases that were tried and convicted this past year, Machen said the Olijawon Griffin murder case was the one he remembers most: Read more Read more →

2013: The Year in Crime Scene Photos

D.C.-area photographer Lloyd Wolf documents the detritus of crime scenes — leftover police tape and other emergency equipment — as well as the memorials that grow in their wake — the flowers, stuffed animals, photos, and more — at Washington’s Other Monuments. From Wolf, here is the year in photos: Read more →

The Year in Comments

The year’s first Comment of the Day came from “Tanisha Hayes” on January 2, 2013. She was writing about Angelo Alphonso Payne and said: I still can’t believe this man my mind all over the place never in a million years would’ve thought in 2013 iI wouldnt have my bestfriend to spend it wit , … Read more →

105

From Bellevue to Brightwood, Capitol Heights to Dupont Circle, 105 people lost their lives in DC this year to violence. The count is an uptick from last year’s homicide tally of 92; the increase is generally believed to be a result of the tragic mass-shooting at DC’s Navy Yard in September. Twelve people were killed … Read more →

When They’re Gone: D.C. Mothers Continue to Grieve for Their Murdered Children

Nardyne Jefferies keeps an old Dominos pizza box stowed away in her refrigerator. It helps her remember her daughter, Brishell Jones, who was murdered three years ago. “That was the last meal she had the night before she died,” Jefferies said. “I can’t bear to throw it away.” Jones was killed in a shooting that … Read more →

2013: The Year in Charts

This year saw the first rise in the number of homicides since 2008. The larger trend still holds, though: The District has seen a steady decline in murder since violent crime peaked in the early 1990s. From Homicide Watch D.C.’s database, here is the year in homicide, visualized: Read more Read more →

Upcoming Murder Trials in 2014

More than thirty trials for homicide cases have been scheduled into the 2014 calendar at DC Superior Court. Of DC murders that have occurred since June 2010, 35 cases are scheduled for 2014 trials thus far. Not all will ultimately be tried. Some defendants will plead guilty before their trial begins. Charges may be dropped … Read more →