In the autumn of 2017, the life of 16-year-old MyAngelo Starnes was tragically cut short in his former neighborhood in Washington, D.C. A student at Ballou High School, MyAngelo was a male teenager who, despite his family's recent move to a different part of the city in search of a safer environment, was drawn back to the familiar streets of the Barry Farm neighborhood in Southeast Washington.
His family had hoped for a fresh start, away from the crime that troubled their previous community, but the bonds of friendship kept pulling the young man back.
On the evening of Sunday, September 17, 2017, MyAngelo was visiting friends in an apartment building on Pomeroy Road SE. It was there, in the entryway of the building, that violence erupted. At approximately 8:13 p.m., the sound of gunfire echoed through the neighborhood. Starnes was struck by multiple bullets. Emergency services were called to the scene, and he was quickly transported to a local hospital in a desperate attempt to save his life. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to his severe injuries and was pronounced dead at around 11 p.m.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the Metropolitan Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide. They canvassed the area for witnesses and appealed to the public for any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible for MyAngelo's death. A substantial reward was offered for tips that would result in an arrest and conviction. However, in the initial reports following the incident, authorities did not release any information about potential suspects or make any immediate arrests in connection with the fatal shooting. The case was left open as detectives continued to piece together the events of that tragic night, leaving a family to mourn the loss of a young life and a community to grapple with the senseless violence.
