Shooting in Adams Morgan, MPD “confident that we have apprehended all parties involved as well as the weapon used”

Prince Of Petworth June 4, 2013 at 8:21am

shooting_adams_morgan
Ontario and Euclid St, NW

From MPD:

Third District members are investigating a shooting that occurred in the area of Ontario and Kalorama at approximately 0300 hours where an adult male was shot and taken to local area hospital. While we are confident that we have apprehended all parties involved as well as the weapon used, we are seeking assistance from anyone that has information related to it. Thank you.

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A reader reports as of 7:50am:

“Kalorama closed between 17th and Champlain right now.”

As of 8:45am a reader sends in the photo above and word that a taxi cab driver may have been shot.

Update from Council Member Jim Graham:

I have just come back from the scene of incredible police courage at Ontario and Kalorama early this morning.

MPD was in the neighborhood at about 3 AM this morning, when they heard a car accelerating. They went to the site on Ontario Rd near Kalorama.

A cab driver had tragically been shot in his cab, in an apparent robbery. The vehicle crashed into a sign and meter, and struck no other car. He later died at the hospital.

The officers gave chase on foot as two men fled the scene. They did so, even though the suspects fired some twenty shots at them. This all occurred in pitch darkness as the area was in a power blackout. (I have requested a report from Pepco on causes and future prevention of this power outage.)

As a result of their determination, two individuals were arrested, Apparently they had hailed the cab in another section of DC.

I want to express our appreciation for this fine police work.

The tragedy of the death of the cab driver is very sad indeed. I believe we can take steps to avoid t his in the future. Tomorrow, I will attend a hearing on cab driver safety chaired by CM Mary Cheh.

We must consider all options to protect our cab drivers in the District of Columbia. This must not happen again.

Update from MPD:

The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a police involved shooting which occurred in the 2400 block of Ontario Road, NW.

Preliminary investigation reveals that on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at approximately 3:15 am, police officers in the Third District’s Robbery Tactical Unit, were patrolling in the 2400 block of Ontario Road, NW, when they observed a taxicab drive by and heard a gunshot. The taxicab crashed and two suspects jumped out of the taxicab and fled on foot. The police officers pursued the suspects and one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and fired at the officers who returned fire. The suspect then forced his way into a home where he was apprehended. The second suspect was apprehended nearby without further incident. A weapon was recovered. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the taxicab driver, the victim of the shooting, to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 57-year-old Solomon James Okoroh of Lanham, Maryland.

The first suspect has been identified as 32 year-old Ercell Overton of Northwest, Washington DC. He has been charged with Murder I, Felony Assault on a Police Officer, Burglary One.

The second subject has been identified as 24 year-old Joshua King of Hyattsville, Maryland. He has been charged with an unrelated Probation Violation Warrant.

No police officers were injured in this incident. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division and Homicide Unit are conducting the investigation.