If you’ve walked down 14th Street lately, you know that Columbia Heights feels like two different worlds. One minute you’re grabbing a $7 latte or browsing the Target, and the next, you’re seeing yellow tape blocking off an apartment entrance on Hiatt Place. It’s a weird, tense vibe. Honestly, the recent headlines about a shooting in Columbia Heights DC have a lot of neighbors wondering if the city is actually getting safer or if we’re just getting used to the chaos.
Last October was particularly rough. We saw a fatal shooting on the 1400 block of Clifton Street where 26-year-old Jerome Myles lost his life. Not even a week later, US Marshals and MPD ended up in a wild exchange of gunfire on Girard Street while trying to serve a warrant. It’s scary stuff. But if you look at the official 2026 year-to-date numbers from the Metropolitan Police Department, they’ll tell you that homicides in the District are down 100% so far this year compared to the start of 2025.
Wait—zero homicides? That sounds great. But it doesn't mean the gunfire has stopped.
Why a Shooting in Columbia Heights DC Still Feels So Frequent
The data often hides the reality of life on the ground. While homicides might be trending down across DC—dropping about 32% by the end of 2025—the category of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon actually spiked by 35% in the first few weeks of 2026. Basically, people are still pulling triggers; they’re just "missing" more often, or victims are surviving thanks to the incredible trauma teams at places like MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
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There’s a specific kind of beef fueling this. Court records from a January 2026 plea deal involving drive-by shootings near the Metro show a nasty, ongoing feud between the Columbia Heights Village (CHV) and Kennedy Street (KDY) crews. It’s not just "random" crime. It’s targeted, retaliatory violence that spills out into public spaces like the Petworth Recreation Center or the Columbia Heights Metro station.
You’re walking to the train, and you’re caught in the middle of a war you didn't sign up for. It’s frustrating.
The Girard Street Incident: A Turning Point?
The Girard Street shooting was a wake-up call for a lot of people. When federal agents are exchanging shots with a murder suspect in broad daylight, the "gentrification" of the neighborhood feels like a thin veneer. Neighbors there told local reporters that the 1400 block of Girard has always been a "trouble area."
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- The Suspect: A man wanted for a previous homicide on Minnesota Avenue.
- The Outcome: The suspect was killed after firing at officers who were breaching his door.
- The Sentiment: Total shock, but also a weird sense of "here we go again."
Councilmember Brianne Nadeau has been pushing for more resources, like the new "sobering center" coming to the neighborhood and more violence interrupters. But let’s be real: when you’re hearing shots at 2:00 a.m. on Hiatt Place—like the shooting that left a man in critical condition this past October—a sobering center feels like a very long-term solution to a very immediate problem.
What Most People Get Wrong About DC Crime Data
There is a massive debate right now about whether MPD is "juking the stats." Former Chief Pamela Smith actually faced accusations of manipulating data before she left the department at the end of 2025. Now, under interim leadership, the city is trying to rebuild trust.
You’ve gotta look at the "Crime Cards" yourself to see the truth. In Columbia Heights, property crimes like "Theft from Auto" are still rampant, but it’s the gun violence that keeps people inside after dark. While the overall violent crime rate in DC hit a 30-year low according to some reports, the feeling of safety hasn't quite caught up.
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What You Can Actually Do to Stay Safe
Living here requires a bit of "city sense." Most of the shootings are targeted, but that doesn't help much if you're standing on the wrong corner at the wrong time.
- Sign up for Alert DC. It’s annoying to get texts every hour, but it’s the only way to know why there are helicopters circling your roof at 1:00 a.m.
- Avoid the "hot spots." The 1400 blocks of Clifton, Girard, and Fairmont have historically seen more activity. If you're walking late, stick to the well-lit corridors of 14th or 11th Street where there’s more foot traffic.
- Engage with the ANC. The Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 1A) holds public safety summits. If you don't show up and complain, the city assumes everything is fine because the "homicide rate is down."
- Know your PSA. Columbia Heights is largely covered by the Third District. Get to know your Police Service Area (PSA) commander. They actually respond to emails more often than you’d think.
The reality of a shooting in Columbia Heights DC is that it’s usually a symptom of deeper, localized issues—crew feuds, open-air drug markets, and a lack of real economic opportunity for the kids growing up three blocks away from $2 million condos. It’s a complicated mess.
If you want to keep tabs on the specific blocks where incidents are happening, check the MPD’s daily crime blotter or the DC Crime Cards portal. It’s better to be informed than to rely on neighborhood rumors. Stay aware, keep your head up, and maybe don't wear your noise-canceling headphones when you're walking home from the Metro tonight.