On August 18th there were gunshots at Hamilton Park (1300 block of Hamilton Street NW), startling neighbors and parents. According to an email sent by Fourth District Commander Wilfredo Manlapaz:

Around 7:15 PM, MPD responded to the sounds of gun shots in the 1300 block of Hamilton Street, NW. Officers located the victim on the Hamilton Recreation Center who reported that while he was playing basketball he observed two people opening his backpack. He approached these two people and one of them displayed a handgun. The victim ran off and heard the sounds of gun shots. He also observed one of the people take his backpack and motorized bike. The victim was unharmed and no one reported injuries as a result of the gun shots. The Fourth District Detectives are investigating this case.

This shooting brings the total number of gunshots or shootings in that area to beyond a dozen. A reader sent me a list she was compiling of gun violence this summer, and it's not pretty and likely incomplete:

8/19/16 Shooting, 1300 block of Hamilton St NW
8/8/16: Homicide, 5700 block of Georgia Ave. NW
8/6/16: Shooting, 5400 block of Illinois Ave., NW
8/6/16: Shooting, 5100 block of Georgia Ave., NW
8/4/16: Shooting, 900 block of Crittenden St., NW
7/30/16: Shooting, 5300 block of Georgia Ave., NW
7/30/16: Shooting, 900 block of Emerson St., NW
7/26/16: Shooting, 700 block of Jefferson St., NW
7/24/16: Double Shooting, (police-involved) 5200 block of Georgia Ave, NW
6/18/16: Shooting, 700 block of Jefferson St., NW
6/17/16: Shooting, 5400 block of Kansas Ave. NW

To help address some of the issues, Commissioner Maria Barry, ANC 4C02 and Sean Wieland, candidate for ANC 4C01 Commissioner, will hold a community meeting at Hamilton Park tomorrow Wednesday, August 24 at 7pm.

MPD will attend to update the community about the shooting that took place on August 18th, and staff from the Mayor's office, DPR leadership and Councilmember Todd's office have been invited.

Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at 7 PM
Hamilton Park Recreation Center, 1340 Hamilton St NW

For more information contact: Commissioner Maria Barry and Sean Wieland.