Police investigate fatal Southeast Washington shooting as officials seek public tips and potential video evidence

What happened

A man died after a shooting in Southeast Washington, D.C., and detectives are investigating the circumstances, including where the gunfire began and what led up to it. In one recent Southeast case, officers responded to reports of a shooting near the 5000 block of Benning Road SE at about 9:26 p.m. on March 13, 2025. Police located an adult male with gunshot wounds and he was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators later determined the shooting occurred outdoors in the 5000 block of H Street SE.

Police identified the victim in that investigation as 33-year-old Darius Young, a Southeast resident. A separate Southeast shooting investigated by police occurred June 2, 2025, when officers responded around 5:54 p.m. to a report of gunfire inside a residence in the 1800 block of Q Street SE. An adult male was found with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene; he was later identified as 18-year-old Darrell Anderson.

How investigators typically build the case

In fatal shooting investigations, detectives generally focus on a timeline that can be corroborated by witness accounts, surveillance footage from nearby businesses or residences, and any available digital evidence. Police also work to confirm the precise location of the shooting and whether the victim moved before being located by officers or medical personnel. Establishing these details can help determine lines of inquiry such as potential disputes, targeted violence, or other precipitating events.

Police have emphasized that people who may have knowledge of a shooting should not intervene directly and should instead contact investigators.

Requests for public assistance and rewards

Police have repeatedly asked community members to share information in Southeast homicide cases, including tips that could identify suspects, vehicles, or the sequence of events. The department’s text tip line, 50411, is set up to accept anonymous messages and can also receive photos or video. Tips can also be provided by phone at (202) 727-9099. Police have said information may be eligible for a reward and have advertised rewards of up to $25,000 in connection with homicide investigations.

• Tip line (call): (202) 727-9099
• Tip line (text): 50411
• Emergency: 911

What remains unknown

In multiple Southeast fatal shooting cases, police have not publicly released a motive in initial updates and have said investigations remain active. Detectives typically continue to interview witnesses and review video and physical evidence as they work to determine who fired the shots and why.