One-year-old boy is shot dead while sitting inside his father's car with his brother, 8, when two gunmen open fire on the vehicle - as homicides in Washington DC hit 15-year high
A 15-month-old boy was shot and killed while riding in the back of his father's car along with his older brother in Washington DC this week, raising concerns in the community over a dramatic spike in gun violence.
Carmelo Duncan was inside his family's vehicle in the 5700 block of Southern Avenue at 9.35pm on Wednesday when someone opened fire, shooting the toddler multiple times.
Carmelo's father and his eight-year-old brother, who was sitting next to him in the car, were not harmed.
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Carmelo Duncan (left and right), a 15-month-old boy, was shot and killed while riding in his father's car in Washington DC on Wednesday night
Carmelo's father was driving in the in the 5700 block of Southern Avenue when police say at least two gunmen riding in a grey SUV opened fire
Police and paramedics responded to the scene and transported Carmelo, who was unconscious and unresponsive, to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries.
'My Babyboy Was Such A Beautiful Blessing To My Family,' Carmelo's mother, Taquana Duncan, wrote in the description of a GoFundme campaign. 'Me And His Dad Made Sure He Lived A OUTSTANDING 15 Months. He Was Such A Awesome Baby.'
Carmelo had celebrated his first birthday in late August with a safari-themed party, where he happily posed with stuffed lions, giraffes and elephants.
Police said it appears that at least two people opened fire from at least two guns in a targeted attack on the car, which was struck as many as 10 times, reported The Washington Post.
Carmelo was struck by multiple rounds, including a bullet to the head. The boy had just celebrated his first birthday in August (pictured right)
An activist speaks at a vigil for Carmelo on Thursday, demanding justice for the toddler
DC Police Chief Peter Newsham said during a press conference that detectives believe the gunfire came from another moving vehicle, a dark grey SUV that was seen driving in the area at the time of the shooting.
Carmelo suffered a gunshot wound to the head, in addition to other injuries.
'That little baby had his whole life in front of him,' Newsham said. 'Somebody thought it was OK to fire a gun off in our community, and now this little baby is no longer with us.'
Dozens of people gathered on Thursday night for a vigil on the street where the toddler was killed. Participants called for an end to gun violence and appealed to witnesses to come forward with information, reported WUSA9.
A combined $60,000 reward from multiple agencies is being offered for information leading to the gunmen's arrests
'We cry, we do the hashtags, we bury the babies and then the phone calls stop and we repeat the cycle,' said community leader Darrell Gaston.
Carmelo is the youngest shooting fatality so far this year in Washington DC, which has seen the number of killings reach 187, the highest in 15 years.
'There are simply no words at the sense of outrage we all feel,' Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a news conference on Thursday. 'We’re all sick for the heinous crimes in our city” and for “the havoc and pain that guns are causing in our city.'
A combined $60,000 reward from the Metropolitan Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the FBI is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman.