In the summer of 2025, the life of 17-year-old Zoey Kelley-Hickman was tragically cut short in Washington, D.C. The young woman, who had dreams of becoming a firefighter, was found deceased on July 4th inside an apartment located in the 1700 block of Benning Road Northeast. An investigation by law enforcement determined that she had sustained a fatal gunshot wound, and her death was officially ruled a homicide.
Her body was discovered in a closet, concealed under blankets and other items.
The investigation into her death quickly focused on 18-year-old Naqwan Antonio Lucas, who was identified as her boyfriend. Authorities connected Lucas to the homicide and he was subsequently arrested and indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree premeditated murder in connection with Zoey's death.
Further investigation revealed a potential motive linked to another violent crime that had occurred just days earlier. Lucas was also identified as a suspect in a shooting on June 30th near the intersection of 7th and M streets NW. That incident resulted in the death of a Capitol Hill intern, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, and left two other individuals injured. Prosecutors have suggested that Zoey may have been killed because of what she knew about the June 30th shooting, implying that her murder was an attempt to silence a potential witness.
In the wake of her death, family, friends, and community members gathered for a vigil to remember Zoey and to call for an end to gun violence. Her parents expressed their profound grief and their hope for justice for their daughter. The case highlighted a string of violent crimes that had impacted the city over the holiday weekend, leaving a community in mourning.
