In the quiet Hawthorne neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the evening of December 11, 2016, was shattered by violence that claimed the life of 21-year-old Grant Copeland Dosunmu, a Black/African American male. Police were called to the 6900 block of 32nd Street NW around 9:30 p.m., where they discovered Dosunmu inside a Jaguar, suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, just two blocks from his family's home.
Investigators believe the person responsible for the fatal shooting was inside the car with Dosunmu at the time of the incident. His mother, Phyllis Copeland Dosunmu, described her son as a popular and wonderful person who had no known enemies, leading her to believe the motive may have been a carjacking. A graduate of Wilson High School with aspirations of becoming an entrepreneur, Dosunmu had spoken to his mother shortly before his death, telling her he was with friends watching a football game and was on his way home.
In the years that have followed, the investigation into Grant Copeland Dosunmu's murder has remained open. As of late 2025, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The Metropolitan Police Department has offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his death. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his family and the community.
