In the early evening of August 1, 2024, gunfire shattered the sense of community and safety at the Lamond Recreation Center on Tuckerman Street in Northeast Washington, D.C. Fourteen-year-old David Bailey, a boy described by his mother as gregarious and a lover of music and the outdoors, was with friends outside the center when the shooting erupted around 7:51 p.m. Inside, a basketball game was underway, but just steps away, David was fatally wounded and died at the scene.
An 18-year-old man was also struck by the gunfire and was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
David, who had recently graduated from Alice Deal Middle School and was looking forward to starting ninth grade, was remembered by his former principal as a student who forged strong bonds and would stop by her office for a quick chat each morning. His mother, Kisha Bailey-Carroll, expressed her profound loss, stating that her son 'wanted to make his family proud.' She did not believe he was the intended target of the shooting. At the time of his death, David was under the supervision of the District's Family Court Social Services Division.
The investigation into the shooting led police to identify 17-year-old Andre Chillous as the suspect. A warrant was issued for his arrest, charging him as an adult with First Degree Murder While Armed. On Friday, February 28, 2025, the now 18-year-old Chillous, from Northwest, D.C., was located and arrested.
Court documents later revealed that David and a group of friends, including the other victim, had entered the recreation center and, upon seeing Chillous, immediately tried to leave. It is alleged that Chillous followed them down a sidewalk and fired multiple times, striking both David and the other individual. During a court hearing, the prosecution argued the attack was premeditated, as Chillous allegedly pursued the victims as they attempted to flee. While Chillous's defense attorney argued he was acting in self-defense, claiming the police affidavit mentioned David also had a gun, the judge found probable cause to charge Chillous with first-degree murder, noting that video evidence showed Chillous aiming and firing without the victims returning fire.
