At approximately 1:43 pm on Saturday, January 29, 2000, Seventh District officers were called to the 1300 block of Congress Place, SE for a report of a shooting. Upon their arrival they discovered the body of 15-year-old John Cottingham, of the 3400 block of 10th Place, SE, suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest and leg. He was taken to the Washington Hospital Center’s MedStar Unit and pronounced dead at 2:30 pm.

Later in the day on January 29, 2000, police arrested a 17-year-old southeast male juvenile in the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE. He was charged with Murder One While Armed in connection with the death of John Cottingham. At this time the shooting appears to have stemmed from an argument. The name of the arrested subject must be withheld because he is a juvenile.