On a Monday morning in Washington, D.C., a 22-year-old Black male named Edward Wade, Jr. lost his life in a burst of gunfire that erupted inside a market in the Anacostia neighborhood. He was a college student, on the verge of graduating from Virginia Union University, with aspirations of joining the Marine Corps. On the morning of January 25, 2021, he had just gotten a coffee and was heading into a second market on Good Hope Road SE to grab some food while his mother, Christine Wade, waited
for him in her car. It was then that the sound of gunshots pierced the air.
Christine Wade ran into the store to the horrific sight of her son dying on the floor. Police and paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after 8:54 a.m. to find Edward Wade, Jr. fatally wounded and two other men also suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims later arrived at local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident, which unfolded in a busy area filled with shops, left the community shaken.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to the identification of suspects. On the same day as the incident, 21-year-old Terrance Oxner of Manassas, Virginia, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed. The investigation continued, and on March 22 of the same year, a second suspect, 17-year-old Aaron Adgerson, was also arrested and charged with first-degree murder while armed; he was to be tried as an adult.
Edward was remembered by his family and community as a positive force. A graduate of Anacostia High School, he was known for his 'lovely spirit' and outgoing personality. He had been actively involved in his community, working with activists to quell neighborhood disputes. His sudden and violent death was a profound loss for those who knew him and a stark reminder of the gun violence that plagues the city.
