Residents press D.C. on LeDroit Park after 33 arrests

LeDroit Park residents in Ward 1 pressed D.C. officials this week for a stronger safety plan after D.C. police records showed nearly two years of repeated shootings in the Northwest neighborhood.

MPD said in a statement that it has made 33 arrests so far in 2026 within 2nd to 5th and T to W streets NW, though not all involved the gunfire cases.

The focus is the area around 2nd and W streets NW, a residential stretch near Seaton Elementary School and Howard University buildings. Residents say gunfire has disrupted ordinary routines, from walking children outside to moving around the neighborhood.

Police records list multiple shootings beginning in January 2025. In two early 2025 incidents, one man was shot in the hand and another was wounded in the upper back, according to those records.

On May 16, 2026, police recovered 38 shell casings after four suspects reportedly fired near the 200 block of W Street NW. Five vehicles and a home window were damaged, and a nearby Howard University building has also been hit by gunfire in more than one incident.

Surveillance footage showed armed people arriving on neighborhood streets and firing before leaving. Residents said the latest shooting happened in October, renewing complaints that enforcement steps have not stopped the pattern.

The school’s proximity has sharpened the pressure on city officials. Dozens of Seaton Elementary parents have signed a petition asking D.C. leaders to take further action.

"It’s not just my concern for my own children and the Seaton community," parent Sri Katragadda said. "I think this has become more urgent because of the presence of the elementary school."

Katragadda said D.C. should look at violence-reduction approaches used in Baltimore and New York, with enforcement focused on repeat actors and services aimed at causes of violence. "I believe we need to do what Baltimore is doing, which is to address root causes by offering a real carrot and a real stick," he said.

He also questioned whether visible patrols or National Guard troops can provide more than short-term deterrence. "I do think they can deter on that immediate block," Katragadda said. "The violence just moves to another block."

Rachel Fehr, a resident, said the city should use the leadership transition to reassess its approach. "I don’t think enough is being done, and I think the new city leadership gives us a new opportunity to try some new solutions," she said.

MPD said its response has included more marked patrol cars, additional supervisory coverage, surveillance cameras and a mobile camera trailer that sends a 24-hour feed to the department’s Real Time Crime Center, a police monitoring hub.

The department said specialized crime suppression, narcotics and robbery teams have operated in the area, including with federal law enforcement partners. MPD also said officers arrested people responsible for shootings on March 22 and April 19, 2026.

In a separate recent case, police said officers arrested a 15-year-old boy on Oct. 1 in the 200 block of W Street NW for allegedly possessing an illegal handgun.

"These resources are central to our strategy to prevent violence and support effective investigations when crimes occur," MPD said in the statement.

MPD said it is also working with D.C. Housing Authority Police, U.S. Park Police and other agencies. "We remain committed to working closely with residents, community leaders, and our government partners to address the root causes of violence and develop long-term, sustainable solutions for the LeDroit Park community," the department said.

Source: D.C. police records, surveillance footage and local reporting, Nov. 12