On Saturday, May 6, 2000, at approximately 1:27 a.m., police who responded to the area to investigate the sound of gunfire discovered the body of 54-year-old Vidalina Semino lying in a wooded area of the 2200 block of T Place, SE. She died as the result of multiple gunshot wounds to the chest.

A joint investigation conducted by members of the Metropolitan Police Department's Sixth District and the Major Crimes Unit, with the cooperation of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia , resulted in the issuance of D.C. Superior Court arrest warrants charging four suspects with Felony Murder while Armed. They have been identified as Leon Butler of the 1500 block of Butler Street, SE; Robert Moody of the 1500 block of Butler Street, SE; Gene Satan Downing of the 1000 block of Marcy Avenue in Oxon Hill, Maryland and Allen Cade of the 3500 block of A Street, SE.

On Monday, November 14, 2000, Leon Butler was arrested at his home address and Robert Moody was arrested at 500 Indiana Avenue, NW. On Thursday, November 16th, Gene Downing and Allen Cade were placed under arrest at Metropolitan Police headquarters, 300 Indiana Avenue, NW.