Teen girl dies from shooting in Southeast DC

WASHINGTON - D.C. police say a teenage girl has died after being shot near a housing project in a Capitol Hill neighborhood in Southeast D.C.

According to police, officers responded to the sounds of gunshots in the 1200 block of I Street nearby the Potomac Gardens housing complex at around 11:42 a.m. Friday.

Police found the victim, 16-year-old Breyona McMillian of Southeast D.C., suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was found unconscious and unresponsive at the scene and was transported to the hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

Police have not released any suspect information or a motive for the shooting at this time.

Friends say McMillian lived at Potomac Gardens and was a student a Washington Metropolitan High School in Northwest D.C. Neighbors told FOX 5 they heard up to ten gunshots at around lunchtime coming the parking lot where the 16-year-old lost her life. A car parked about half a block away from the crime scene was found with a bullet hole in the door.

"Loved to dance, loved to sing, [not] violent, loved to go to school," said a family member of the McMillian. "She was just sweet to everybody. Everybody in Potomac gardens is going to miss her."

Two ANC commissioners say violent crimes have been happening more and more in this up-and-coming neighborhood and more patrols are desperately needed.

"Unfortunately there was a shooting not that long ago at 2:45 in the afternoon on Potomac Avenue," said Amy Grace, a newly-elected ANC commissioner in Ward 6. "Unfortunately, some of these crimes have become quite brazen and in the daylight. It should be a family-friendly community where folks are home and enjoying family and friends for Thanksgiving. But unfortunately that's not always the case. We certainly recognize that there are a lot of drivers of crime and also a lot of violence and illegal activity that is going on."

"The city has an ultimate responsibility to protect our communities and right now that is not being done in certain parts of our city," said Paul Trantham, an ANC commissioner in Ward 8. "The evidence is right here. This incident happened at 11:40 a.m. this morning … in broad daylight right after Thanksgiving. When does the mayor, the chief of interim police say enough is enough. We must do much more."

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser sent out a tweet about the deadly violence at Potomac Gardens.

Police say a reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case. Anyone with tips is asked to call D.C. police at 202-727-9099 or through their text tip line by text messaging 50411.