In the early morning hours of a spring day in Washington, D.C., a violent encounter cut short the life of a young man. Clifton Nate Chaney, a 26-year-old male, was with two other individuals, seated in a car in the 3800 block of 10th Street, NE on Saturday, May 17, 2008. At approximately 2:25 a.m., their vehicle was approached by an unidentified gunman who, without warning, opened fire.
The sudden hail of bullets left Chaney with multiple gunshot wounds. In a desperate attempt to save him, the driver of the car sped away from the scene, heading towards a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, the injuries Clifton Chaney sustained were too severe. Upon arrival at the hospital, he was pronounced dead. The two other occupants of the vehicle were also injured in the attack but were treated for non-life-threatening wounds.
The Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the shooting of Clifton Chaney, who was also known by the nickname “Snugs.”
The case was taken on by the department's Criminal Investigation Division Homicide Branch. In the years that have followed, law enforcement has sought assistance from the public, appealing for any information that might lead to the apprehension of the person or persons responsible for this senseless act of violence.
To date, the investigation into Clifton Chaney's death remains open. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with the shooting. The case is listed among the unsolved homicides for 2008 by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, a cold case file that represents a family's unanswered questions and a community's lingering sense of loss. The motive for the shooting and the identity of the gunman remain unknown.
