In the early morning hours of Thursday, September 2, 2021, the life of Ricky Darnell Black, a 41-year-old Black man from Southeast Washington, D.C., was cut short by gunfire. The fatal shooting occurred just after midnight, at approximately 12:11 a.m., in the 2700 block of Langston Place, Southeast, a neighborhood near Suitland Parkway and Alabama Avenue.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department's Seventh District were dispatched to the scene after reports of gunshots in the
area. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mr. Black suffering from gunshot wounds. D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded but found that he showed no signs of life and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was later transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch are actively investigating the case, which has been classified as a homicide. At this time, what led to the shooting remains under investigation, and authorities have not released any information about a possible motive. There have been no arrests made in connection with the shooting, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Mr. Black's death. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police.
