Yesterday morning, we noted that a man was shot and killed near the intersection of North Capitol Street and Florida Avenue NW around 11:10 p.m. on Wednesday evening. More details are now coming to the surface in the crime: the man killed was 33-year-old Bloomingdale resident Billy Mitchell, who was reportedly shot in the stomach while walking home from a theater.

The story is a heartbreaking one. Shortly after his son’s death, Mitchell’s father took to the Bloomingdale listserv to ask his neighbors for help. After admitting that he didn’t “have many details,” Mitchell wrote that he was searching for information from anyone who may have witnessed the crime. The most crushing part of his plea for help? Mitchell, even in a time of what has to be unimaginable grief, was already thinking about how to make the area where his son was gunned down a better place.

I remember working with…North Capitol Main Street volunteers to clean up the pocket park where this murder apparently occurred. Maybe we need to redouble our efforts (and stimulate some effort from the City and Metro to make that area safer, cleaner, more beautiful, economically viable and less hazardous).

Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas, Jr., meanwhile, told WTTG/Fox 5 that “[the Mitchells are] just a good family from just being involved and helping to try to bring that neighborhood back.”

Mitchell asked that anyone who might have information about the crime contact MPD Homicide Detective Milton Norris at 202-497-4734; an MPD press release notes that those with information can also contact detectives from the Violent Crime Branch are investigating; anyone with information can contact the police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).