On Thursday, December 21, a drive-by shooting incident occurred near Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., resulting in the death of two people and critical injuries to two others. 

The dead victims were identified as Patricia Harris, 35, and Tyrone Jacobs, 24, both from Southwest, D.C.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the shooting involved four people and took place at the intersection of O and Half streets in Southwest D.C. around 11:50 am. The victims included one woman and three men, with Harris succumbing to her injuries at the scene and Jacobs after dying at a nearby hospital.

Chief Pamela Smith of the MPD, in a news conference, disclosed that a white Jeep Cherokee was involved in the shooting. This vehicle, characterized by a sunroof, tinted windows, and a Maryland license plate (2FD 0820), was identified as stolen during an armed carjacking on the previous day. The location of the Jeep has since been traced to Prince George’s County, Maryland.

Witnesses nearby reported hearing about 20-30 gunshots. A neighborhood resident, deeply affected by the incident, lamented the loss of Harris, known as a mother to several children. The area, known for previous incidents of violence and drug activity, has been a concern for local residents. Sandra Tapscott, a local, expressed her frustration over the ongoing issues at that corner, noting her efforts to address them over the past three years.

In a separate but related incident on December 20, a 65-year-old man was found fatally shot inside a home in Southeast DC. The connection of this incident to the Nationals Park shooting remains unclear.

The MPD is investigating both incidents, with no arrests made so far.