In the early evening of Friday, February 10, 2023, the sound of gunshots shattered the peace in the 1900 block of 18th Street, Southeast, near the Anacostia Neighborhood Library in Washington, D.C. When officers from the Sixth District arrived at the scene around 5:52 p.m., they found a man suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite the quick response from D.C.
Fire and Emergency Medical Services, the victim, identified as 27-year-old Melvin Henderson, a Black man from Southeast, D.C., showed no signs of life and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch is leading the investigation into Henderson's death, which they have classified as a homicide. As of late 2025, no arrests have been made in the case. Authorities have offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his murder. They have asked anyone with information to contact them directly or to submit anonymous tips through their text line.
According to court records that surfaced in relation to other violent crimes in the city, Henderson's death is believed to have been the catalyst for a violent feud between two rival crews. Witnesses have told investigators that Henderson was associated with a group known as 'Choppa City.' His killing reportedly ignited a series of retaliatory shootings and killings between the Choppa City Crew and the '18th & T Crew,' a group associated with the area where Henderson was fatally shot. This ongoing conflict has been linked to at least one subsequent triple homicide in the city, highlighting the violent repercussions of Henderson's unresolved murder.
