In the spring of 2024, a bright and cheerful 3-year-old girl named Ty'ah Settles was tragically killed in Washington, D.C. On the evening of May 3rd, Ty'ah was a passenger in a vehicle when it inadvertently drove into the middle of a gunfight. More than two dozen shots were fired in the 2300 block of Hartford Street, SE, and a stray bullet struck the young girl.
A family member rushed her to a nearby fire station, from where she was airlifted to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.
Ty'ah was a beloved child, described by her mother as her 'twin' who 'brightened a room.' She had a love for french fries and pizza and had adorned the walls of her family's apartment with her colorful doodles. Her godfather remembered her as a very smart child with the intelligence of a seven-year-old. Her death marked her as the city's 58th homicide victim of the year and the youngest to be killed by gunfire.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community mourned the senseless loss of a young life. A makeshift memorial of dolls, stuffed animals, and flowers was created on Hartford Street. D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith led a prayer walk and vigil, urging anyone with information to come forward. Despite the public pleas for assistance, the investigation into Ty'ah's death has been met with few leads.
As of the one-year anniversary of her death, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Metropolitan Police Department, along with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is offering a combined reward of $50,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Ty'ah Settles' death. The case remains an open and active investigation.
