In the late hours of a Tuesday night in Washington, D.C., violence erupted that would claim the life of a young man. On February 21, 2023, in the 1400 block of Saratoga Avenue, Northeast, a triple shooting occurred. When Metropolitan Police Department officers arrived at the scene around 10:36 p.m., they discovered three men suffering from gunshot wounds. One of the victims, 21-year-old Jayvon Jones of Southeast, DC, was found unconscious and not breathing.
He was rushed to a local hospital, but lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead. The other two men were also transported to the hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation into the homicide led to the identification of two suspects. On March 21, 2023, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 33-year-old Justin Borum of Hyattsville, Maryland. He was subsequently charged with second-degree murder while armed. The case against Borum was built on evidence that included video surveillance footage. During a preliminary hearing, a prosecutor presented video that allegedly showed Borum and another suspect shooting at Jones as he tried to run away. The footage also reportedly captured Borum fleeing the scene in a vehicle linked to him by its license plates. The crime scene itself was extensive, with investigators recovering 99 shell casings.
Further investigation led to a second arrest. On September 8, 2023, authorities apprehended 31-year-old Jerome Dukes of Northeast, D.C. He was also charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in Jayvon Jones's death. Court documents indicate that an individual who had worked in the area for many years was able to identify both Dukes and Borum as the alleged shooters after reviewing surveillance footage of the incident.
Both Justin Borum and Jerome Dukes have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, which include second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict. During a preliminary hearing, a judge found probable cause to move forward with the case against Borum, denying a request for his release due to his extensive criminal record and the danger he posed to the community. The legal proceedings for both men are ongoing.
