James Swann

Serial Killer

James Swann: The Washington, D.C. "Shotgun Stalker"

Background

James Edward Swann Jr. was responsible for a terrifying series of apparently random shotgun attacks in Washington, D.C., during the winter and spring of 1993. Newspapers and frightened neighborhood residents came to know the unidentified gunman as the "Shotgun Stalker." Swann attacked pedestrians without warning, generally firing from a slow-moving automobile before speeding away. His victims appeared to have no personal connection to him, making the shootings especially difficult for investigators to predict or prevent. Swann was born in 1964 and had lived in New Jersey before the attacks. He reportedly worked occasionally as a security guard. During the crime spree, he traveled into Washington and concentrated his attacks in the Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods of Northwest Washington. He used a 20-gauge shotgun that had been purchased approximately a year before the shootings. Between February 23 and April 19, 1993, Swann carried out approximately 14 separate shooting attacks. Four people were killed and five others were wounded. Several additional intended victims escaped injury when his shots missed. Although Swann is frequently described as a serial killer, the brief duration, continuous escalation and concentrated nature of the attacks have also caused him to be classified as a spree killer.

The First Attacks

The series began on the evening of February 23, 1993. At approximately 8:45 p.m., a woman was walking near Holmead Place and Monroe Street in Columbia Heights when a firearm appeared from the window of a slow-moving vehicle. A shot was fired, but the woman was not struck. Police initially treated the incident as possible vandalism involving a pellet gun or as the reckless behavior of teenagers. Approximately 20 minutes later, another person was attacked nearby on Oak Street. The victim was a 22-year-old man who was struck in the head by shotgun pellets. He survived but suffered devastating injuries, including the loss of an eye and substantial impairment to one arm. Investigators initially considered the possibility that the shooting was connected to neighborhood drug activity, despite the victim's denial that he was involved in the drug trade. On February 26, 1993, a gunman entered a barbershop in Columbia Heights and shot a man who was seated in a barber's chair. The victim died from his wounds. Authorities did not immediately recognize the killing as part of a larger pattern and again considered the possibility of a dispute or drug-related violence. Publicly accessible accounts of the Swann investigation do not consistently identify this victim by name. ...

Confirmed Victims: (4)

Julius Bryant Age: (58), Date of Death: 1993-02-26

James Swann - Wikipedia