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Eight people were killed and at least eight were wounded in weekend violence in the District.
The deaths bring this year's homicide total in the city to 73. It's the first time this year that the number has exceeded the tally from the same date in 2007. Most of the weekend killings happened in the 5th Police District in Northeast, despite an increased police presence that began in April.
"I wanted to go in that morgue yesterday and I just wanted to shake him and say 'Tony wake up', but he's not coming back," said Sybil Hough.
Her brother, 35-year-old Anthony Mincey was one of the three men shot and killed early Saturday morning in Northeast. Someone opened fire on the car the three were in. Police said the killer chased Mincey, who was disabled, cornered him in an alley and opened fire.
"I feel sorry for the mothers that has lost theirs too, now my pain is their pain," said Anthony's mother, Shirley Hough.
D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier (web|news|bio) calls the violence "frustrating," and she is pledging to continue the police focus in the neighborhood. However, she says there is a limit to what police can do to prevent more deaths. "Bottom line is we gotta somehow change the mentality that an argument or a dispute is enough to result in a murder."
Lanier said she points to drugs, gambling, domestic violence and the prolific use of guns as the culprit.
As for Mincey, the family believed he was not the target. He was mentally disabled after a severe beating one year ago. His family said he was focused on becoming a rapper.
"They made sure that he wasn't gonna be alive. They made sure that they killed the witnesses," said Sybil Hough.
When the family was asked what should be done to calm the violence, their response was "everything possible."
"When it happens to them, they'll understand how important it is for people to tell their information that they know to get these cases closed," said sister Tawanda Mincey.
"They will think twice," said father David Mincey.
Two men were also shot on the basketball courts at Patricia Harris Elementary School in Southeast early Sunday. Edward Mitchell, 21, died at the hospital as a result of his injuries and the other victim suffered non-life threatening injuries.
There were two other late night shootings, both in Northwest. The first incident occurred after 11:30 p.m. in the 3500 block of Warder Street, where police found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. He is expected to survive.
Another man was shot in the 5600 block of 8th Street. He is also expected to survive.
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