One dead in shooting outside SE DC church

WASHINGTON - A 21-year-old man was killed in a shooting on the steps of a Catholic church in Southeast D.C.

Police say at around 12:11 p.m. on Tuesday, Amari Jenkins of Southeast D.C. was shot multiple times -- possibly by three black males who had gotten out of a blue minivan in front of St. Luke Roman Catholic Church. The suspects then got back into the vehicle and fled the area.

On Wednesday, D.C. police released a photo seeking information of a vehicle of interest that appears to be a blue Honda Odyssey.

It was an active scene all afternoon as police tried to control friends and relatives who rushed to the church after hearing news of the shooting.

At least four young men rushed the crime scene trying to get to the victim's body when they were intercepted by police. One officer got in the way by picking up one of the men who had gotten under the crime scene tape.

Within seconds, they retreated and ran across East Capitol Street and got into a car.

As the victim's body lie under a sheet on the steps of the entrance to the church, police worked at the crime scene by setting down evidence markers.

The victim's mother then arrived at the church. She screamed out in anguish and kept saying, "My heart, my heart, my heart is broken."

As dozens of people gathered nearby, police did everything they could to calm friends and relatives who showed up at the church. At times, it was highly emotional.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier was at the church speaking with her detectives before making an attempt to comfort the victim's mother.

Then there was news of another shooting in the 4700 block of Alabama Avenue. Police concerned about retaliation raced off where they found a crime scene, but no victims.

Police say there is a $25,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this fatal shooting.