Do you know who murdered Elexuis Woodland?
In the early morning hours of December 2, 2005, Elexuis Woodland, a 23-year-old transgender woman, was walking home with a male friend in Washington, D.C.. The pair had just purchased food from a carryout and were in the 2000 block of Savannah Terrace, SE, at approximately 1:20 a.m. when a light blue American-made car, possibly a Buick or Oldsmobile, pulled up beside them.
A man emerged from the vehicle and demanded money from Woodland and her friend. When they informed the gunman that they had no cash, the attempted robbery took a tragic turn. The assailant opened fire, fatally wounding Woodland and injuring her friend, who ultimately survived the attack. Woodland, a hairstylist, had changed her last name to honor her grandfather, a former boxer known for his work with youth in the community.
In the wake of the shooting, the Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation, seeking the public's assistance for information. Based on the surviving victim's account, authorities released an artist's sketch of the suspect. He was described as a Black male in his 20s, standing between 5 feet 11 inches and 6 feet tall, with a slight mustache and his hair in either plats or dreadlocks. Despite these details and a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction, the case remains unsolved. No arrests have been made, and a suspect has not been publicly identified in the years following the incident.
