Photo by Bullneck.

After two transgender individuals were involved in late night attacks along Dix Street NE, District police are warning residents that the crimes may represent a “potential emerging pattern.”

The two incidents both occurred in July. In the first, Myles Lashay McLean was shot and killed on July 20 around 4:30 a.m. after two subjects approached McLean and a witness and, without warning, fired a semi-automatic handgun at them on the 6100 block of Dix Street NE. In the second incident, a male suspect approached an unidentified victim on the 6200 block of Dix Street NE, and asked for change before pulling a gun and firing. The suspect fortunately missed his target, then fled. The suspected shooters in both cases are described as black males in the late teens or early 20s.

“Due to the similarities of the victims’ sexual self-identification, M.O., locations, and lookout for suspects, the cases are being investigated as a potential emerging pattern,” read the alert. According to the alert, the Metropolitan Police Department has teamed with the Prince George’s County Police Department to help increase patrols in the area — anyone with information is asked to contact police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).

The alert comes at a time when advocates are calling for the police department to work harder to prevent and respond to hate crimes against LGBT residents. During a Council hearing in July, Chief Cathy Lanier was accused of poorly handling the department’s Gay and Lesbian Liason Unit.