At approximately 3 am on Saturday, July 23, 2005, several men were in the lobby of an apartment building, located at 2801 15th Street, NW, when they were approached by a lone male, armed with an handgun, who attempted to rob them. A struggle ensued at which time one victim was shot in the head and another in the chest. The gunman made good his escape. he man shot in the chest was taken to an area hospital and admitted in stable condition. The man shot in the head, identified as 21-year-old Cervano Hernandez, of the 15th Street address, died as a result of his wound.
As the result of a subsequent investigation, members of the department's Violent Crimes Branch obtained an arrest warrant charging Felony Murder While Armed for 19-year-old Malcolm Pearsall of the 1400 block of Chapin Street, NW. At approximately 12:05 am on Sunday, July 24, 2005, members of the Third District's Focus Mission Team arrested the suspect in the 1400 block of U Street, NW, after a brief foot pursuit. He is expected to be arraigned today.