Washington, D.C. — A tragic domestic shooting unfolded Wednesday afternoon, leaving a woman dead and a young girl injured in the Grover Park neighborhood. Authorities identified the deceased as 34-year-old Rayven Amuan Edwards, who was reportedly shot by the father of her child.
The Metropolitan Police Department responded to reports of a double shooting at approximately 4:45 p.m. in front of an apartment complex located in the 4100 block of W Street NW. Upon arrival, officers found Edwards and her 10-year-old daughter suffering from gunshot wounds. Initial reports incorrectly stated the girl’s age as 12. Emergency medical personnel transported the girl to a nearby hospital, where she received treatment for a gunshot wound to her arm. A second child, an 8-year-old boy, witnessed the incident but was unharmed.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene in the moments following the shooting. A neighbor, wishing to remain anonymous, recounted hearing distressing screams and witnessing the aftermath as the girl, bloodied and frightened, revealed that her stepfather had shot her mother.
Police quickly identified 35-year-old Stephon Marquis Jeter as the suspected shooter and initiated a search. Jeter was believed to be traveling in a pickup truck accompanied by the couple’s 3-year-old child. In a swift response, law enforcement issued an AMBER Alert to assist in locating them.
Less than two hours after the initial shooting, authorities tracked Jeter’s vehicle to Maryland. A pursuit ensued after the truck re-entered D.C., culminating in a crash near 30th Street and Nash Place SE. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers found Jeter had taken his own life. His body was subsequently transferred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for examination.
The 3-year-old child was discovered safe at a relative’s home in Prince George’s County following the tragic events. Authorities reported that the relationship status between Jeter and Edwards remains unclear, as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The community mourns the loss of a life cut short and grapples with the impact of violence that resonates far beyond the immediate tragedy.