17-Year-Old Girl Dies After Northwest Washington Double Shooting at Modo Apartments, Turning Weekend Gunfire on New Hampshire Avenue Into a Homicide Investigation
WASHINGTON, DC — A 17-year-old girl has died after a weekend shooting inside the Modo Apartments in Northwest Washington, and police have turned the case into a homicide investigation.
Metropolitan Police said officers were called to reports of gunfire just before 7 p.m. Saturday in the 3700 block of New Hampshire Avenue. When they arrived, they found the teenage girl and a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Both were conscious and breathing before they were taken to local hospitals for treatment.
Police confirmed Sunday that the girl died from her injuries. Authorities have not released her name.
Officers responded just before 7 p.m. Saturday inside the Modo Apartments
The shooting happened inside the apartment complex along New Hampshire Avenue in the District’s Northwest quadrant. Police said the incident drew a response after reports of gunfire at the building.
Investigators have not said what led to the shooting or how the victims and suspects were connected. The motive remains under investigation, and officials have not described any dispute or warning signs before the gunfire.
Because the teen later died, the case was upgraded from a shooting investigation to a homicide investigation on Sunday. That change means detectives are now treating the death as part of a criminal killing probe.
Police say two male suspects may have fled in a black sedan
Detectives are looking for two male suspects whom authorities believe may have left the scene in a black sedan. Police have not released detailed descriptions of the men.
No arrests have been announced. Investigators have also not said whether the suspects were known to the victims or whether surveillance video has helped identify them.
That search is now a central part of the investigation as officers try to piece together what happened before the shooting and where the vehicle may have gone after leaving the area.
The teenage victim and the wounded man were both taken to hospitals
Police said the two victims were found with gunshot wounds and were conscious and breathing when officers reached the scene. Emergency crews then transported both people to local hospitals for treatment.
Authorities have not said where each victim was taken or provided an update on the condition of the man who was also shot. The girl’s death was confirmed the next day, but the man’s status has not been publicly detailed.
The victim’s identity has not been released, and officials have not said whether family members have been notified. The department has kept the medical information limited while the investigation continues.
Police ask the public for help identifying the suspects
Metropolitan Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward. Officials say tips from witnesses or people who may recognize the suspects could help investigators determine how the shooting unfolded.
The department did not provide a separate tip line in the information released with the case update, but it urged the public to contact police if they know anything relevant.
At this stage, the motive, the exact sequence of events and the relationship between those involved remain unknown. Police said those questions are still being examined as the homicide investigation moves forward.
Property management has not commented on the shooting
The shooting took place inside a residential apartment complex, but property management has not responded to a request for comment. Officials have not said whether the building was placed under any special security review after the gunfire.
For residents in the area, the incident adds to concern about violence near a busy corridor in Northwest Washington. Police have released only limited facts so far, focusing on the victim, the suspect search and the request for public assistance.
As of the latest update, no further information had been made public about the condition of the crime scene or whether investigators recovered a weapon.
