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Killings in Montgomery, Prince George’s rose in 2015 Killings in Montgomery, Prince George’s rose in 2015
(35 minutes later)
Killings in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties increased last year, reflecting trends in homicide figures for the District and other large cities across the country.Killings in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties increased last year, reflecting trends in homicide figures for the District and other large cities across the country.
In 2015, Montgomery experienced one of its deadliest years in two decades with 30 homicides, and Prince George’s ended a three-year streak of declines with 81 killings.In 2015, Montgomery experienced one of its deadliest years in two decades with 30 homicides, and Prince George’s ended a three-year streak of declines with 81 killings.
The number of homicides remained low in the Northern Virginia jurisdictions adjacent to the District.The number of homicides remained low in the Northern Virginia jurisdictions adjacent to the District.
Officials in Montgomery and Prince George’s said no singular explanation has emerged to account for the increase. They noted that other categories of crime that tend to have an impact on people more often — such as burglaries — were down as a whole. In Montgomery, burglaries fell 22 percent, according to initial figures. Prince George’s reported nearly 4,000 fewer crime victims last year, with a 17 percent combined drop in the number of property and violent crimes. Officials in Montgomery and Prince George’s said no singular explanation has emerged to account for the increases. They noted that other categories of crime that tend to have an impact on people more often — such as burglaries — were down as a whole. In Montgomery, burglaries fell 22 percent, according to initial figures. Prince George’s reported nearly 4,000 fewer crime victims last year, with a 17 percent combined drop in the number of property and violent crimes.
Cities nationwide noted similar increases in homicides for 2015 — a trend so concerning that chiefs of some of the largest police departments gathered for a summit in the District this past summer to discuss the violence. The District logged 162 homicides in 2015, compared with 105 in 2014 — an increase of more than 54 percent. Baltimore — with nearly 350 slayings — saw one of the bloodiest years in its history, with a more than 60 percent increase. New York, Chicago and Milwaukee also noted an increase in killings. Cities nationwide noted similar increases in homicides for 2015 — a trend so concerning that chiefs of some of the largest police departments gathered for a summit in the District this past summer to discuss the violence. The District logged 162 homicides in 2015, compared with 105 in 2014 — an increase of more than 54 percent. Baltimore — with nearly 350 slayings — saw one of the bloodiest years in its history, with a more than 60 percent increase. New York, Chicago and Milwaukee also reported increases in killings.
[Tracking D.C.-area homicides.][Tracking D.C.-area homicides.]
Prince George’s interim police chief Hank Stawinski said many county cases­ involved “long-standing inter­personal disputes” or “disputes that precipitated immediate violence.” Prince George’s interim police chief, Hank Stawinski, said many county cases­ involved “long-standing inter­personal disputes” or “disputes that precipitated immediate violence.”
One man died after arguing with another over a lawn mower. Another man was killed after a fight over a parking space. And another man was fatally shot after a spitting incident at a gas station.One man died after arguing with another over a lawn mower. Another man was killed after a fight over a parking space. And another man was fatally shot after a spitting incident at a gas station.
“They’re not the kinds of things that you can anticipate,” Stawinski said. “Before, people would have cross words and get into a fistfight, but now it is escalating to a point where people are pulling out a gun and killing each other.”“They’re not the kinds of things that you can anticipate,” Stawinski said. “Before, people would have cross words and get into a fistfight, but now it is escalating to a point where people are pulling out a gun and killing each other.”
Montgomery County officials saw similar behavior. “The disturbing aspect of many of these cases­ is that the escalation to taking another human’s life was done with seemingly little effort,” said Montgomery police Capt. Darren Francke, head of the major crimes unit. Montgomery County officials saw similar behavior. “The disturbing aspect of many of these cases­ is that the escalation to taking another human’s life was done with seemingly little effort,” said Capt. Darren Francke, head of the Montgomery police force’s major crimes unit.
In 2015, Montgomery recorded its highest homicide total since 2002, the year that six people in the county were killed by Beltway snipers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo. Excluding 2002, last year’s total is the highest in two decades, going back to the nation’s crack epidemic, when Montgomery had 34 slayings in 1992, according to state totals.In 2015, Montgomery recorded its highest homicide total since 2002, the year that six people in the county were killed by Beltway snipers John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo. Excluding 2002, last year’s total is the highest in two decades, going back to the nation’s crack epidemic, when Montgomery had 34 slayings in 1992, according to state totals.
Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman, called all the homicides tragedies — leaving behind layers of affected family and friends. “There’s a hole in these people’s lives. There’s holes in their hearts,” he said. “There’s an empty chair at the dinner table.”Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman, called all the homicides tragedies — leaving behind layers of affected family and friends. “There’s a hole in these people’s lives. There’s holes in their hearts,” he said. “There’s an empty chair at the dinner table.”
Brian Shefferman, who runs the public defender’s office in Montgomery, said he has not seen any underlying trends that explain the increase in homicides. And even as someone who constantly reads reports of crimes — some horribly violent — Shefferman said he feels pretty safe living in the county.Brian Shefferman, who runs the public defender’s office in Montgomery, said he has not seen any underlying trends that explain the increase in homicides. And even as someone who constantly reads reports of crimes — some horribly violent — Shefferman said he feels pretty safe living in the county.
“Let’s face it,” he said, “with a population of more than 1 million people, 30 is not an alarming murder rate.”“Let’s face it,” he said, “with a population of more than 1 million people, 30 is not an alarming murder rate.”
What is alarming, according to Montgomery officials, is a subset of the homicides linked to gang violence. In court papers, detectives have connected three killings to a resurgence of the MS-13 gang: one man found in a shallow grave in August, another man found shot to death in woods next to his bicycle and an 18-year-old found floating in a creek after assailants stabbed and threw heavy rocks at him. The suspects arrested in gang-related cases­ so far range in age from 15 to 19. What is alarming, according to some Montgomery officials, is a subset of the homicides linked to gang violence. In court papers, detectives have connected three killings to a resurgence of the MS-13 gang: one man found in a shallow grave in August, another man found shot to death in woods next to his bicycle and an 18-year-old found floating in a creek after assailants stabbed and threw heavy rocks at him. The suspects arrested in the three cases­ so far range in age from 15 to 19.
The county’s top prosecutor, John McCarthy, said two more homicides are likely to be linked to MS-13, as will be evident when all arrests and trials are concluded. “That’s a significant number of homicides in our county for a specific gang,” he said.The county’s top prosecutor, John McCarthy, said two more homicides are likely to be linked to MS-13, as will be evident when all arrests and trials are concluded. “That’s a significant number of homicides in our county for a specific gang,” he said.
In addition to 77 homicide cases­ investigated by Prince George’s police in 2015, four more slayings occurred in the county but were handled by other law enforcement agencies: one by Greenbelt police, two by U.S. Park Police and one by a federal agency in the fatal shooting of a security guard on the U.S. Census Bureau campus.In addition to 77 homicide cases­ investigated by Prince George’s police in 2015, four more slayings occurred in the county but were handled by other law enforcement agencies: one by Greenbelt police, two by U.S. Park Police and one by a federal agency in the fatal shooting of a security guard on the U.S. Census Bureau campus.
Although Prince George’s reported a homicide increase, the 2015 tally is far removed from the triple digits the county averaged between 2000 and 2010, and it follows record declines. County police investigated 54 killings in 2014 and 56 in 2013.Although Prince George’s reported a homicide increase, the 2015 tally is far removed from the triple digits the county averaged between 2000 and 2010, and it follows record declines. County police investigated 54 killings in 2014 and 56 in 2013.
Prince George’s police Maj. Robert Brewer, head of the criminal investigations division, said that 2014 “was a fantastic year for our reductions in this crime category. It’s hard to compare.” Maj. Robert Brewer, head of the Prince George’s police force’s criminal investigations division, said that 2014 “was a fantastic year for our reductions in this crime category. It’s hard to compare.”
A majority of the homicides in Prince George’s involved people who knew each other or occurred in neighborhoods bordering the District or within the Beltway.A majority of the homicides in Prince George’s involved people who knew each other or occurred in neighborhoods bordering the District or within the Beltway.
The number of homicides in Fairfax County rose to 12 in 2015, after 10 the previous year. Police are investigating the apparent electrocution of an Alexandria woman in December as a homicide but are awaiting a final ruling on her cause of death from the state’s medical examiner. The number of homicides in Fairfax County rose to 12 in 2015, after 10 the previous year. Police are investigating the apparent electrocution of an Alexandria woman in December as a homicide but are awaiting a final ruling on her cause of death from the Virginia medical examiner.
The number of slayings is in line with what the county has seen in recent years. Fairfax police have made arrests in 10 of the 12 killings.The number of slayings is in line with what the county has seen in recent years. Fairfax police have made arrests in 10 of the 12 killings.
The city of Alexandria saw four homicides in 2015, and all remain unsolved. Two were fatal shootings, and two were cases­ of young Hispanic men found dead in parks.The city of Alexandria saw four homicides in 2015, and all remain unsolved. Two were fatal shootings, and two were cases­ of young Hispanic men found dead in parks.
Arlington County had a single homicide — a psychologist found dead in her home in April as her young children wandered outside. Her estranged husband was charged months later in her slaying.Arlington County had a single homicide — a psychologist found dead in her home in April as her young children wandered outside. Her estranged husband was charged months later in her slaying.
In the vast majority of the homicides in Maryland and Virginia, the victim and the alleged killer knew each other either as acquaintances, friends or relatives.In the vast majority of the homicides in Maryland and Virginia, the victim and the alleged killer knew each other either as acquaintances, friends or relatives.
That was the circumstance in the death of 35-year-old Tonya Wilkerson-Sullivan about a month after she and Antoine Elvin Sullivan exchanged sunrise wedding vows at National Harbor.That was the circumstance in the death of 35-year-old Tonya Wilkerson-Sullivan about a month after she and Antoine Elvin Sullivan exchanged sunrise wedding vows at National Harbor.
But after an argument in their Largo townhouse on Oct. 25, Sullivan fatally shot his wife before killing himself in the presence of her 4-year-old son. Wilkerson-Sullivan’s death was one of 15 homicides involving domestic violence in Prince George’s last year. After an argument in their Largo townhouse on Oct. 25, Sullivan fatally shot his wife before killing himself in the presence of her 4-year-old son. Wilkerson-Sullivan’s death was one of 15 homicides involving domestic violence in Prince George’s last year.
Days later, ribbons of purple tulle — a color symbolizing domestic-violence awareness — draped the family’s front porch as dozens of people attended a vigil in Wilkerson-Sullivan’s memory. They wore T-shirts printed with her image and remembered how Wilkerson-Sullivan — who survived a previous abusive relationship — often offered strength to others. Days later, ribbons of purple tulle — a color symbolizing ­domestic-violence awareness — draped the family’s front porch as dozens of people attended a vigil in Wilkerson-Sullivan’s memory. They wore T-shirts printed with her image and remembered how Wilkerson-Sullivan — who survived a previous abusive relationship — often offered strength to others.
After purple balloons were released to the sky, those in attendance prayed, shared memories and were asked to hug 35 people — one for every year Wilkerson-Sullivan lived.After purple balloons were released to the sky, those in attendance prayed, shared memories and were asked to hug 35 people — one for every year Wilkerson-Sullivan lived.
“You have to know that love doesn’t hurt,” said Talaya Wilkerson, her niece. “I hope everyone takes the time to learn to love each other right.”“You have to know that love doesn’t hurt,” said Talaya Wilkerson, her niece. “I hope everyone takes the time to learn to love each other right.”
Peter Hermann, Justin Jouvenal and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.Peter Hermann, Justin Jouvenal and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.