D.C. shootings toll climbs to 4 dead, 9 wounded

WASHINGTON - Four people are dead and at least nine other people have been wounded in a violent spike in crime this weekend in Washington.

Police are investigating three homicides in southeast Washington and another in northeast Washington from the early morning hours Saturday.

Police say the violence began Friday night with three shootings injured six people. Later, police were called to investigate a stabbing where a woman was seriously injured. And another shooting overnight Saturday injured two more people.

Mayor Adrian Fenty says the city is experiencing two major crime sprees. The first is a series of fatal shootings in the 5th police district in northeast Washington over the past month. He says the second major crime spree has come in the last 24 hours.

Fenty says the violence is "way beyond intolerable."

Police Chief Cathy Lanier says she has mobilized all manpower to focus on specific areas and is partnering with local and federal law enforcement to "identify and apprehend those responsible for the violence."

The first fatal shooting victim was found around 1 a.m. when police responded to a call on the 3000 block of Stanton Road Southeast near St. Elizabeth's Hospital. Upon arrival police found 28-year-old Billy Evans Middleton suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the head.

Police found a second person dead near the intersection of Morse Street and Montello Avenue Northeast, not far from the campus of Gallaudet University, after responding to a shooting on the 1200 block of Morse Street about 2:00 a.m. The victim has been identified as a 30-year-old man.

The police are offering a reward of up to $25,000 dollars for information leading to an arrest on each of the four homicide cases.

The following incidents took place between April 25 and 26.

• 8th and Yuma Street, SE - At approximately 12:32 a.m., police were called to Greater Southeast Hospital for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, police located 31-year-old Kenneth Walley of the 3900 block of 8th Street, S.E. suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the body.

• 2400 block of Elvans Road, S.E. -- At approximately 4:00 a.m., police were called for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival officers located 20-year-old Eric Woods, of Capital Heights, in Maryland, suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

• 2700 block of Langston Place, S.E. - At approximately 11:23 p.m., one male shot in leg; second male shot in the forearm. Both victims transported themselves to Greater Southeast Hospital.

• 100 block of Galveston Place, S.W. - At approximately 11:25 p.m., one male was shot in the buttocks and back; one female received a flesh wound as the result of the ricochet. Each were transported to Greater Southeast Hospital

• Intersection of Ainger Place and Langston Place, S.E. - At approximately 11:41 p.m., one male shot in right forearm; one male shot in the buttocks. Each was transported to Greater Southeast Hospital.

• 1200 block of Eaton Road, S.E. - At approximately 1:40 a.m., one female stabbed multiple times. The victim was transported to MedStar.

• 1000 block of Half Street, S.W. - At approximately 2:00 a.m., one male shot in the back; second male shot in the leg. Each was transported to Howard University Hospital. Investigators are still trying to determine where this shooting occurred. The victims may have sustained their injuries in Prince George's County.

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