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Second Arrest Made In D.C. Homicide

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Police Charge Second Teen In Petworth Neighborhood Triple Shooting Homicide

Sunday, September 21, 2025, 8:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON, DC.- On Friday, an 18-year-old Washington, D.C., man was taken into custody and jailed after being charged in connection with his role in a triple shooting that claimed the life of a 19-year-old man, and left another man and a teenager hospitalized, that earlier this year in the Petworth Neighborhood in Northwest, D.C.

     According to D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, just minutes after 9:00 p.m., members of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Fourth District responded to gunfire on the 800 Block of Taylor Street and the 3700 Block of Georgia Avenue in Northwest, D.C.

Police Officers Find Man And Teen Shot On Georgia Avenue

     Upon arrival, Police Officers discovered a man and a 15-year-old boy on Georgia Avenue, both suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The man and the teen were transported by DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services to a nearby hospital, where, despite life-saving efforts, the man, later identified as Zephaniah Wright, 19, of Northeast, D.C., succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased a short time later. The teen underwent treatment for serious injuries and has since been released and continues to recover at home.

Third Victim Drives Himself To The Hospital

     While investigating at the scene, Police Officers and Detectives were informed that a third victim, an adult male, had arrived at a local hospital requesting treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. During the initial investigation at that time, Detectives determined that the man had been struck by gunfire on Taylor Street in Northwest, D.C.

     During an extensive investigation, Detectives were able to identify two 18-year-old Northwest, D.C., men for their roles in the triple shooting. On Thursday, June 19, 2025, pursuant to a D.C. Superior Court warrant, members of the Third District Crime Suppression Team located and arrested Jose Hernandez, 18, of Northwest, D.C., and formally charged him with first-degree Premeditated Murder While Armed. He remains detained in the D.C. Central Detention Facility pending trial.

     On Friday, September 19, 2025, members of the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Jayden Wells, 18, of Northwest, D.C., pursuant to a D.C. Superior Court warrant. He was formally charged with first-degree Premeditated Murder While Armed. Wells was processed on the charge and was remanded to the D.C. Central Detention Facility pending future court proceedings in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”

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Art Fletcher
Art Fletcher
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