Do you know who murdered Cynthia Grey? On a warm summer evening in Southeast Washington, D.C., 17-year-old Cynthia Gray was outside with friends, holding her 7-month-old godson. Suddenly, a stolen Cadillac approached, and gunfire erupted into the crowd of teenagers. In a final act of heroism, Gray shielded the infant with her body and then pushed him under a parked car to safety. One of the gunmen then walked up to her and shot her in the face.
Three other teenagers were wounded in the shooting but survived; the baby was unharmed.
The incident, which occurred on August 24, 2006, in the 4600 block of Benning Road SE, was described by police as a 'cowardly act.' Cynthia, who was about to start her senior year at Eastern Senior High School, was tragically killed. The violence that cut her life short sparked outrage in the community. Her death was particularly poignant as it came just one month after her boyfriend had also been shot and killed in a separate incident.
In the wake of the shooting, the community mourned the loss of the young woman who gave her life to save a child. A vigil was held where family and friends lit candles and created a memorial in her honor. The authorities investigated the crime, which they believed began with a carjacking in a neighboring county. The investigation led to the arrest of a 20-year-old man, Cordel Lesene, who was charged with first-degree murder and three counts of assault with intent to kill.
