Man charged in Jamahri Sydnor's murder also accused of 2 other killings this week

An 18-year-old man charged with the murder of 17-year-old Jamahri Sydnor is also accused of two other fatal shootings in D.C. this week, authorities said.

James Mayfield appeared in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday -- one day after his arrest. The judge called him an extreme danger to the community and refused Mayfield's request to be released on his own recognizance.

Mayfield is the third suspect charged in connection to Sydnor's death. The college-bound D.C. teenager was killed in August after she was caught in the crossfire of a shootout while driving on Saratoga Avenue in Northeast D.C.

The suspect has also been charged with fatally shooting 38-year-old Jermaine Bowens on Tuesday night in the 2200 block of Douglas Street in Northeast D.C. and 21-year-old Elijah Henry in the 1800 block of Bryant Street in Northeast early Wednesday morning.

Police say the same .40 caliber pistol was used in all of the shootings.

Mayfield was arrested later on Wednesday after police responded to an attempted armed robbery in the 3100 block of Berry Road in Northeast D.C.

Mayfield had been previously on the run since October.

"When someone is trying not to be found, they can be very difficult to find," said D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham. "It is my understanding that Mr. Mayfield has actually changed his appearance somewhat from the photographs that were released."

"We have an 18-year-old in the last several months that we think is responsible for three homicides and we don't know how many robberies," said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. "So we have a person who has really in a lot of way terrorized the community and we want to send a strong message to any victim of crime, any person who would commit robberies in our city - that our detectives and police officers and community members want to live in safe neighborhoods and they are going to work to make sure that we have safe neighborhoods."

Sydnor is the daughter of a D.C. police sergeant. She was headed to a family member's wedding when she was shot to death in August.

"Completely disgusted," said Que Wallace, Sydnor's mother. "He killed my baby. He killed my innocent child."

She added, "He is a monster and it is just sad that he had the opportunity to strike yet twice again just because he had not been caught for whatever reason."

Mayfield is charged with three counts of first-degree murder while armed, one count of attempted robbery and carrying pistol without a license. He is also a person of interest in three other robberies.

He is scheduled to appear back in court on Jan. 11.