On a Saturday evening, February 22, 2020, a tragedy unfolded in the Brightwood neighborhood of Northwest Washington, D.C., forever altering the lives of two families. Seventeen-year-old Hispanic male Wilfredo Torres and his friend, 16-year-old Jaime Zelaya, were returning to Zelaya's apartment complex on the 6000 block of 13th Street NW, after getting food from a nearby McDonald's.
As they entered the building around 5:06 p.m., a gunman armed with a high-powered rifle followed them inside and opened fire. The attack was sudden and brutal, leaving both teenagers with fatal injuries.
Inside the residence, officers discovered a horrifying scene. Wilfredo Torres was pronounced dead at the scene, having succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. Jaime Zelaya was rushed to a local hospital, but despite all lifesaving efforts, he too was pronounced dead. A third victim, an adult female who was later identified as Jaime's mother, was also found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was transported to a hospital in critical condition and survived after undergoing multiple surgeries.
The Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide, describing the shooting as not appearing to be a random act. However, a specific motive for the targeted attack has not been publicly identified. Both Torres and Zelaya were described by their families as good teens who stayed out of trouble. The schools the teenagers attended also released statements mourning their loss and expressing concern about the violence students face in the neighborhood.
Despite the ongoing investigation and a reward of up to $25,000 being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction, no suspects have been publicly named or arrested in the case. The families of Wilfredo Torres and Jaime Zelaya continue to wait for justice, grappling with the profound loss of two young lives cut short by gun violence. The community was left shaken by the incident, which was part of a particularly violent weekend in the city.
