In the early hours of a Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., the sounds of gunshots shattered the quiet of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood. It was approximately 1:14 a.m. on September 30, 2020, when police responded to the 3200 block of Hiatt Place, NW. There, they discovered a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency services arrived at the scene, but it was too late.
The victim, identified as 33-year-old John Pollard, a Black male from Northwest, D.C., was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of John Marvin Pollard II, affectionately known as 'Lil' Marvin,' was launched by the Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch. Known for his laid-back and charismatic nature, Pollard was a devoted son, brother, and uncle who had a passion for basketball and a talent for video games. He had worked hard to earn his high school diploma in 2012 and was employed in the custodial industry, having recently secured a job at the Pentagon. His unexpected and violent death left his family and friends to grapple with a profound loss.
As detectives pieced together the events of that tragic morning, their investigation led them to a suspect. On Monday, November 9, 2020, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 28-year-old Randle Price of Northwest, D.C., charging him with first-degree murder while armed. The case against Price proceeded through the court system, with a judge finding probable cause in July 2021. Later, a second suspect was also apprehended in connection with the homicide. The police department had offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Pollard's death.
