In the Trinidad neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C., 34-year-old Balmore Mauricio Fuentes, a husband and father of two, was shot and killed in broad daylight on Wednesday, August 23, 2017. Fuentes, a construction crew chief from Dundalk, Maryland, was overseeing the renovation of several houses in the area when the incident occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m. in an alley in the 1100 block of Oates Street, NE.
He was found suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Fuentes, who had come to the United States from El Salvador to build a better life for his family, was a respected figure in the community. Those who knew him described him as a hardworking man who took pride in his work and was dedicated to improving the neighborhood. His wife had recently joined him from El Salvador. The motive for the shooting appeared to be a robbery, a common concern for Latino construction workers in the area who are often perceived to be carrying cash. However, according to those close to him, Fuentes had no money on him at the time of the attack.
In the course of their investigation, D.C. police arrested a 14-year-old boy from Northeast, D.C., on Wednesday, September 13, 2017. The teenager was charged with First-Degree Felony Murder while Armed. During a court hearing, it was revealed that the suspect was on probation and had five prior contacts with the juvenile justice system. Prosecutors alleged that the teen, along with another individual, approached Fuentes and a co-worker to demand money. The co-worker told police that one of the assailants was armed and that the 14-year-old had pointed towards Fuentes's pockets. In an act of bravery, Fuentes lunged at the weapon before it was fired once. A prosecutor stated in court, 'The victim died trying to save his colleague.'
Due to the suspect's age, his name was not publicly released as he was charged as a juvenile. The Metropolitan Police Department had offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. The investigation into the death of Balmore Mauricio Fuentes remained ongoing following the teenager's arrest.
