Dear PoPville,
Last Saturday just before 12AM I was walking home as I passed the intersection of H and 14th NE when I was jumped by a group of roughly 10 teenagers in the age range of 14 to 17. One kid sucker punched me in the back of the head while another took a swing at my face and missed. I was able hit that assailant in the face subduing him but it wasn’t enough. At that time the other kids threw me into the side of the bus stop and preceded to kick and punch me repeatedly. Finally a group of women were driving by and yelled when the suspects fled by foot towards Trinidad.
When the police came they tracked the kids down, I was able to identify 2 of the kids that hit me. The detective on the scene knew exactly who the kids were and said they have a history of doing this stuff in the neighborhood.
After I clearly identified 2 of the suspect the detective said he was still unable to charge them with anything other than a curfew violation. His reasoning was that I was unable to provide any other distinguishing characteristics to press charges, such as facial features or specific clothing type. It is virtually impossible when being kicked repeatedly to identify any other feature than race and general clothing. Each one of the assailants was a black teenager wearing black.
Luckily I didn’t sustain any major injuries other than a few bumps and bruises. This is because I was able to tuck and protect by head. If I didn’t know how to protect myself I don’t think I’d be able to write this email right now.
When is this type of unnecessary violence going to stop? Everyday I read this blog and at least once a week I read a similar story about someone who was mugged by a group of random teenagers. Clearly, the mayor and the police chief don’t deem this as a problem that they need to solve or else there would be strict curfew enforcement and prosecution of these types of crimes. When is this going to become a priority? When are the good citizens of this city going to standup and demand that something is done? I’m afraid that some innocent person is going to need to lose their life before anything is done.
Recent Stories
From FEMA: “IMPORTANT: On Wednesday, Oct. 4th at 2:20 p.m. ET, there will be a nationwide emergency alert test on cell phones, wireless devices, radios, and TVs. This is a…
Thanks to MG for sending this double sweet find. Sweet City Ride is made possible by readers like you!
Photo by Jeff Vincent Ed. Note: If this was you, please email [email protected] so I can put you in touch with OP. “Dear PoPville, We encountered each other at the…
If you have any animal/pet photos you’d like to share please send an email to princeofpetworth(at)gmail(dot)com with ‘Animal Fix’ in the title and say the name of your pet and…
St. Mary Armenian Church will hold its 75th Annual Armenian Fall Food Festival October 6-7 from 11am – 8pm at St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church (4135 Fessenden St. NW). Traditional Armenian Food will be available for both Carry-out and Dine-in including Lamb and Chicken Kabobs, Cheese Boreg, Baklava and a wide variety of other delicious dishes. Traditional Armenian music and dancing on Saturday night and unique artisan vendors throughout the festival. Outdoor dining space is available as well as free on street parking. Can’t join us to dine-in? Order via link for carry-out with the link above.
At Generation Hope, we’re dedicated to supporting teen parents in college as they work toward earning their degrees. We are in need of caring child care volunteers for upcoming events on Saturday, October 21st (in Washington, DC), and Saturday, November 4th (in Arlington, VA). Join our growing volunteer community and support us at an event this fall!
At all of our events, we provide free onsite child care for the children of the teen parents we serve, creating a nurturing environment for the kiddos while their parents learn valuable life skills and build community.
If you enjoy working with children and are looking to make an immediate impact in your community, please visit https://www.generationhope.org/volunteer to learn more.
DC 20’s & 30’s Singles Happy Hour
DC 20’s & 30’s Singles Happy Hour
You all asked, and were delivering! Our sold out September Singles Happy Hour was such a success, were throwing another! This time we are hosting at an even better venue, with a larger
Storytelling Night: Immigrants Celebrating Independence and Individuality
Independence permeates every step of the immigrant journey. It may have motivated the move or could be a result of it, but regardless, self-discovery is inextricably tied to the experience.
In this storytelling night, just days after Nigeria’s Independence Day,
