Sadly, last night was yet another violent one in Columbia Heights, as multiple listserv reports — including one from Councilman Jim Graham — describe more gunshots on the 1300 block of Columbia Road NW. First, Graham reports that shortly after 7:30 yesterday evening, a 51-year old man was struck by bullets in the wrist, hand, and thigh. No one is sure of his connection, if any, to the mostly gang-related violence that has plagued the block for the last few months. The man is expected to recover.
Another report later in the evening — less detailed, but just as poignant — notes that there were more shots fired on the same block around midnight. As the report reads:
On my way home I noticed that there was no light tower on Columbia Rd. and asked myself how that could possible be given what happened two nights ago.
About ten minutes later, as if on cue, my roommate and I heard multiple shots. The MPD should be absolutely ashamed. If there’s one thing they should be able to pull off, it’s preventing multiple shooting at the SAME FRIGGIN’ ADDRESS. How could anyone justify there not being a light tower there tonight?
The light tower that the poster (and Graham) references is a part of MPD’s response to the rash of gang violence which has plagued the block, most notably after the homicide of 17-year old Paul Jones in January. Police are supposed to be aggressively patrolling the area. But as Prince of Petworth reported and the listserv poster referenced, that light tower also wasn’t turned on when an innocent bystander was shot last Wednesday in the same area.
It goes without saying that the light tower’s non-operation is unnecessarily frustrating — especially as the number of victims is rising. In a response, Third District Inspector Edward Delgado says that his squad took a walk through of the Columbia Heights Village Apartments on the block and that he noted several improvements in security that could be made, including “better lighting, trimming of trees, video surveillance cameras, upgraded locks, securing laundry rooms, increase of security staff, and housing audits.” Delgado also noted that police have been conducting door to door canvassing to get a sense of neighborhood residents’ perspectives. Delgado said that he ordered a light tower to be deployed in the area — but didn’t mention anything about making sure that it was actually turned on.
Obviously, the crime issue on the block has hit a point at which simple policing is struggling to work. So we ask you, Columbia Heights residents and D.C. at large: what’s to do about the rash of violence on the 1300 block?
