Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide and Sexual Offenses Branch are currently investigating a homicide which occurred in the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE.

Shortly after 5 pm on Wednesday, August 27, 2008, Sixth District officers responded to the vicinity of Benning Road and Hanna Place, SE to investigate the sound of gunfire.  Upon arrival, they located an adult male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the body lying on the sidewalk in the 4800 block of Benning Road, SE. 

The victim, who has been identified as 17-year-old Ralph Dale Hodge, Jr., of the 4600 block of Blaine Street, NE, was transported by D.C. Fire Department ambulance to Prince George’s Hospital Center where he was pronounced dead.  Subsequently, the body of the victim was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland in Baltimore.

Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to call 202 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIM[E].  Anonymous information may also be forwarded to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

The Metropolitan Police Department is currently offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.