Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide and Sexual Offenses Branch are currently investigating a homicide which occurred in the 1600 block of 16th Street, SE.

At approximately 3:30 am on Saturday, October 11, 2008, officers from the Sixth District responded to the 1700 block of R Street, SE, to investigate the report of a shooting.  Upon arrival, officers located an adult female at that location suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds.  A second victim, another adult female, was also found suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds in  the 1600 block of 16th Street, SE. That location was determined to have been the original scene of this offense.   Both victims were subsequently transported and admitted to area hospitals by personnel from the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

On Sunday, October 12, 2008, the first victim succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced dead at 9:07 am.  She has been identified as 27-year-old Denise Phillips of the 1000 block of 45th Street, NE.

The second victim in this case remains hospitalized in stable condition. Her identity is being withheld as she is considered to be a witness in this case.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (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 currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.