In the early morning hours of January 3, 2015, the life of 35-year-old Rahji Jerod Ross, a Black male from Southeast Washington, D.C., was tragically cut short. The incident unfolded at approximately 3:51 a.m. in the 2700 block of Bruce Place, SE. Ross was a passenger in a car when two men, described as Black males wearing masks and all-black clothing, attempted to carjack the vehicle.
During the confrontation, multiple gunshots were fired, and Ross was struck several times.
Responding to the sound of gunfire, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department arrived at the scene to find Ross conscious but suffering from serious injuries. D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported him to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his wounds. In another account, it was stated that despite immediate medical attention at the scene, Ross passed away there. His death marked the first homicide of 2015 in the District of Columbia.
The investigation into the murder of Rahji Jerod Ross was immediately launched by the MPD's Homicide Branch. A neighbor reported hearing at least seven shots and overheard a companion of Ross say, 'They were trying to rob us.' Authorities have been searching for the two male suspects and have offered a reward of up to $25,000 for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. Despite the ongoing investigation and pleas to the public for assistance, the case remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made.
