In the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 22, 2012, a burst of gunfire shattered the pre-dawn quiet in the 1300 block of Stevens Road, SE in Washington, D.C. When the sounds of the shots faded, Levern Butler, a 27-year-old Black male, lay fatally wounded. Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the scene at approximately 1:00 a.m. to find Butler suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite their efforts, his life could not be saved.
The investigation into Levern Butler's death was launched immediately, with detectives from the Homicide Branch taking the lead. However, the case proved to be a difficult one. In the days and weeks that followed, police appealed to the public for assistance, hoping that someone in the community held the key to solving the crime. Flyers were distributed and pleas were made for anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to come forward.
Despite the passage of time, the murder of Levern Butler remains unsolved. No arrests have ever been made in the case, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Metropolitan Police Department continues to list the case as an open homicide and encourages anyone with information to contact them. For the family and friends of Levern Butler, the lack of closure has prolonged their grief as they continue to await answers and justice for his untimely death.
