On a Wednesday afternoon, March 31, 2021, chaos erupted in the 1300 block of Congress Street, Southeast, in Washington, D.C. At approximately 1:21 pm, the sound of gunfire pierced the air, prompting a swift response from the Seventh District of the Metropolitan Police Department. Arriving at the scene, officers discovered a grim tableau: two men and two women suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency services transported the four individuals to local hospitals for urgent medical attention.
A fifth victim of the shooting later sought treatment at a local hospital as well. Despite the life-saving efforts of medical personnel, the incident claimed the lives of two of the victims.
Among the deceased was Keosha Ferguson, a 28-year-old female from Southeast, DC. The other fatality was identified as 25-year-old George Evans III, also a resident of Southeast, DC. The surviving victims were treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Initial police reports indicated that the shooting may have stemmed from a dispute between two groups of people. The investigation into the double homicide was quickly launched by the detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch.
The investigation led to the identification of a suspect in Keosha Ferguson's death. On April 28, 2021, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 25-year-old Tarik Turner of Southeast, DC, based on a DC Superior Court arrest warrant. Turner was subsequently charged with Second Degree Murder While Armed in connection with the fatal shooting of Keosha Ferguson. He was not charged in relation to the death of George Evans III.
Following his arrest, Tarik Turner's case proceeded through the legal system. In a turn of events, Turner, who claimed he acted in self-defense after Ferguson allegedly shot him in the leg, accepted a plea deal. On March 8, 2022, he pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without a license. The initial murder charge in Ferguson's death was dropped as part of the plea agreement. Turner was subsequently sentenced for the lesser charges.
