Tragedy struck in Southeast D.C. on a recent Saturday evening, affirming the stubborn persistence of gun violence in the heart of our community. The Metropolitan Police Department has been actively investigating a fatal shooting that took the life of a young woman, according to a news release by MPD. The victim was found bearing the brunt of multiple gunshot wounds in a grim echo of a narrative all too familiar in urban landscapes.
On the night of November 8, 2025, officers of the Seventh District were dispatched to the 3300 block of 14th Place, Southeast promptly around 8:33 p.m. to hastily investigate the sounds of gunfire. There, they encountered 22-year-old Jayla Vaden, unconscious and not breathing. Despite the efforts of D.C. Fire and EMS to quickly respond, Vaden’s injuries were beyond the reach of mortal aid, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, “suffering from multiple gunshot wounds,” as detailed by the MPD official statement…