On a spring break evening in Washington, D.C., 18-year-old Ayana McAllister, a female college freshman, found her life tragically cut short. She was home from her criminal justice studies at St. Augustine's University in North Carolina, spending time with her older sister and a college friend. On the night of Monday, March 20, 2017, they were in the 4300 block of Benning Road NE to support a friend who was filming a rap music video in the parking lot of an apartment complex.
Just as the
video shoot concluded and the group was preparing to leave, the sound of gunfire suddenly erupted. As they were getting into a car, multiple shots were fired into the crowd. In the chaos, Ayana was struck by a bullet. Her sister recalled hearing her say, 'I got shot.' Ayana was rushed to a local hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries the following day, on March 21, 2017. A friend who was with her sustained a minor graze wound and was treated and released.
Authorities believe Ayana was an innocent bystander, not the intended target of the shooting. The incident was described by police sources as a suspect in a car with a get-away driver opening fire on the group. Despite pleas from Ayana's family and the Metropolitan Police Department for witnesses to come forward with information, the case remains unsolved. To date, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with her murder. The gunmen are believed to still be at large.
