In the quiet of a late November evening, a domestic disturbance shattered the peace in a University City, Missouri neighborhood, leaving a family torn apart and a community in shock. On the night of Monday, November 24, 2014, police received a call about a burglary in progress. When they arrived at the home of 55-year-old Donna Washington, they found her with a gunshot wound to her leg.
She was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries a short time later.
The ensuing investigation quickly identified a suspect: Donna's own son, 33-year-old Major Washington. As three officers approached the residence, Major Washington opened fire, striking one officer in the chest. Despite his injuries, the officer was able to return fire as the suspect fled into the night, sparking a manhunt for the man described as armed and dangerous.
The search for Major Washington came to a dramatic and violent end early Wednesday morning. Acting on a tip, law enforcement, including FBI agents, located him barricaded alone inside a nearby home. During the standoff that followed, two FBI agents were shot, one in the leg and one in the shoulder; their injuries were not life-threatening. When authorities finally entered the home, they found Major Washington dead.
Major Washington had a history with law enforcement, including a previous incident in 2011 where he had threatened a relative at his mother's home and was shot by police after pointing a gun at them. He had been released from prison in March 2014 after pleading guilty to assault on a law enforcement officer and armed criminal action in that case. His criminal record also included convictions for drug possession, escape from custody, and resisting arrest. The motive for the tragic killing of his mother was not immediately clear. The incident, occurring just miles from Ferguson, was confirmed by the FBI to be unrelated to the protests happening at the time.
