D.C. police chief calls for healing and an end to gun violence during a prayer march in the Southeast

As religious leaders prayed outside the D.C. Seventh District police station along Alabama Avenue in Southeast on Tuesday evening, Police Chief Pamela Smith watched closely.

She closed her eyes, bowed her head and clapped at times as congregants prayed for the safety of their neighborhood, for an end to gun violence and for healing for the family of 3-year-old Ty’ah Settles, who was killed nearby Friday night.

Then, as she turned to speak, she reflected on what she described as a “troubling weekend.” Smith said she has nieces and nephews, and Settles’ death hit her particularly hard.

Police said Settles was in a car last week and was hit by a stray bullet.

To help the community cope, Smith convened her faith council for a neighborhood prayer walk. She led a group in singing as they walked down Irving Street and then around the corner, where Settles’ family spent a few private minutes with D.C.’s top police officer.

While violent crime in D.C. is down compared to the first five months of 2023, police remain concerned about what could happen when the warm weather arrives. Smith said Tuesday that summers in D.C. “can be rough.” Friday’s shooting, in which a toddler was caught in the crossfire in a car, was a reminder of that.

“We will deploy as many resources as possible, but this is not the final solution,” Smith said. “The answer is that we all need to come together as a community to get these young people and adults to put down their weapons.”

Police are still searching for people who may have been involved in the Southeast shooting, and Smith said the city is offering a $50,000 reward for anyone who can provide information related to the fatal incident.

“It’s heartbreaking for the District of Columbia to lose someone so young who hasn’t had a chance to even have a start in life,” Smith said.

Many religious leaders and community members shared a similar opinion.

Emma P. Ward, who said she is a reading specialist in the city, reflected on how Settles’ family will navigate life without the traditional milestones of a child.

“I won’t have the opportunity to teach this three-year-old to read,” Ward said. “This just breaks my heart.”

Smith, meanwhile, hopes to rally around Settles’ family and use the shooting to bring about change.

“When we see young people doing things they shouldn’t be doing, we need our community to step back and intervene when they’re doing things that aren’t right,” Smith said.

Phyllis, a Ward 8 resident, described the shooting as senseless and heartbreaking.

“This is a wake-up call for people to realize that life is precious and you cannot give it back,” she said.

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