In the late hours of a Friday evening, on September 1, 2023, the life of 18-year-old Cle’Shai Perry was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire. An African American female, Perry was with two friends in a rear outdoor parking lot in the 1300 block of 7th Street, NW, near the Mount Vernon Square area of Washington, D.C., when the shooting occurred at approximately 11:56 pm.
The three teenagers were reportedly walking home when they were caught in the crossfire.
Responding to reports of gunshots, Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene to find a horrific sight. Perry, along with 19-year-old Mikeya Ferguson and a 15-year-old girl, had all suffered gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel quickly transported the three victims to local hospitals. Despite lifesaving efforts, both Cle’Shai Perry and Mikeya Ferguson were pronounced dead. The third teenager was left in critical but stable condition, having sustained severe injuries.
The violent incident was part of a string of shootings that marked a particularly violent start to the Labor Day weekend in the District. In the wake of the tragedy, the families of the victims voiced their anguish and called for action to address the ongoing gun violence in the city.
As of now, the investigation into the triple shooting is ongoing. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch are handling the case but have not yet publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the deaths of Cle’Shai Perry and Mikeya Ferguson. In an effort to gather information, the police department is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this homicide.
