A shooting incident near Dunbar High School in Northwest Washington, DC, on Friday morning has left a 17-year-old girl with minor injuries and two suspects under arrest. According to DC Police, the girl was sitting in her first-period class when a stray bullet entered the school through a window, striking her. The incident occurred at around 10 am, and police responded promptly to the intersection of Kirby Street Northwest and Morgan Street Northwest.
Assistant Chief Leslie Parsons reported that the shooting resulted from an exchange of gunfire between individuals in a car traveling the wrong way down Kirby Street. The motive remains unknown, but police have confirmed that the shots were fired outside the school, and there was no active threat inside. The 17-year-old girl suffered a minor graze injury and is expected to recover.
Late Friday night, police announced the arrest of 18-year-old Zaharia Graves and a 17-year-old boy in connection to the shooting. They have been charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, and endangerment with a firearm.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are reviewing video footage shared by a neighbor, which shows the moments before, during, and after the shooting. The footage has helped investigators piece together the events leading up to the incident.
Dunbar High School remained locked down until shortly after noon as a precautionary measure. Chief Pamela Smith confirmed that all other students were safe, and parents were relieved to hear that their children were unharmed. Gloria Baskerville, a Dunbar parent, expressed her gratitude that no one was seriously injured, saying, “I thank God that he’s okay, and I thank God that the little girl is okay too. Because it’s frustrating for a parent.”
Students were shaken by the incident, with Kaden Brown, a Dunbar student, describing his experience: “I was scared because we are in school. I didn’t expect anything like that to happen. It’s the end of the week, end of the school year.”
The police investigation is active and ongoing, and anyone with information that could aid investigators is urged to call DC Police at 202-727-9099 or text the department’s tip line at 50411.
In conclusion, the shooting at Dunbar High School has left a community shaken but grateful that no one was seriously injured. The prompt response by DC Police and the arrest of two suspects have brought a sense of relief, and the investigation continues to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.
