A reader sends the following report updating the homicide in Petworth Tuesday from a press briefing with MPD Chief Cathy Lanier:
POLICE CHIEF CATHY LANIER
Prelim info, Still a lot more work to do
Within past 48 hours, THREE separate incidents, assaulted or suffered head trauma
Not definitively linked – similarities that give us pause
INCIDENT #1
Homicide on Tuesday April 24, 6pm – Gary Diedrichs, 66yo white male
Found unconscious, suffering from head trauma
INCIDENT #2
Wed April 25, 3am, 53yo black male, 4800 block of GA Avenue – thought struck by car, only injuries were trauma to the head.
Blunt impact
Individual is still hospitalized
INCIDENT #3
Wed April 25 8:40, 5600 9th Street NW – 37yo black female prelim investigation revealed struck in head by blunt object
Serious head trauma and remains hospitalized
10 block radius along GA Ave corridor
DETAILS
All 3 may have been walking alone at time of attack
All three suffered blunt force trauma to the head
May have been attacked suddenly and without provocation
Assaults occurred in small geographic area – 10 blocks – obviously until we get more info, residents in the area
Going fwd – anything you see or have seen suspicious, contact us, dial 9/11
Information about previous suspicious activity related – call police
WARNING
Obviously we don’t really know what we have at this point – since it appears that all indivuals were alone at the time, ask residents to walk in pairs
MOTIVE – no apparent motive to include motive for robbery