By Micha Green
AFRO D.C. Editor
mgreen@afro.com
Last year’s homicide count (196) crept beyond the 2018 rate (169), however this year there have been four less deaths than this time in 2019, {according to D.C. Witness}.
Despite the lower statistics, there were two homicides in the first two days of February.
On Feb. 1, a local rapper was killed in Northeast, D.C.
Donelle Hodges, 24, better known as Big Booda, of Southeast, D.C. was killed on the 3800 Block of Minnesota Avenue Northeast.
Two people died in two days in Washington, D.C., including Donelle “Big Booda” Hodges, 24, who was killed in Northeast on Feb. 1. (Courtesy Photo)
According to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) press release, Hodges was found in a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Having gained a following with his music, Hodges comes as a major loss for many.
“Unfortunately I got the call I lost my good man business partner BOODA! At one point in time I was proud to say I was from I no longer am,” wrote one of Hodge’s business partners who identified as Rundwn Shard.
While in mourning, Shard used the post as a moment to discuss the difficult effects of senseless violence.
“I have been blessed to survive and punished at the time to watch one single area and also a city rob me of 90 of the people I grew up with and loved,” he wrote.
The following day, on the afternoon of Super Bowl Sunday shortly after 4 p.m., a violent shooting ended fatally for one person and two others with injuries.
The shooting occurred on the 4300 Block of 3rd Street Southeast, D.C.
When police arrived to the scene of the crime, they found 26-year-old Raheem Murray unconscious with multiple gunshot wounds and “DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services (DCFEMS) responded to the scene and found no signs consistent with life,” according to a MPD press release.
Another adult male was found on the scene of the crime suffering from life-threatening injuries, and was taken to a local hospital to be treated.
After being treated for non-life threatening injuries, police learned of another man who had been hurt on location of the shooting in Southeast, D.C.
In the cases of both homicides, MPD is offering a $25,000 reward for the assistance that leads to solving the in the deaths of Hodges and Murray.
