Washington, D.C
Investigators look for new leads in off-duty DC police officer’s 1995 murder
Almost 30 years after an off-duty D.C. police officer was found shot to death in her Silver Spring home, police are looking for new leads in the case. Police charged her boyfriend with murder, but dropped the charge two months later, and the homicide remains unsolved.
On Sept. 16, 1995, Kenneth Wonsom told police he went to the store just after 3 a.m. and returned to the apartment to find the front door open and 24-year-old Deena Campbell dead inside.
“He described it as being approximately 3 inches ajar when he got home,” Montgomery County police Det. Paula Hamill said. “He had said that he locked the bottom and top lock upon leaving at 3:20 a.m.”
When police arrived, they found the keys in the door.
Several witnesses told investigators they heard gunshots around the time Wonsom says he left the apartment, Hamill said.
“We had a specific witness that heard five gunshots, and Deena Campbell was in fact shot five times,” she said.
Campbell’s police-issued service weapon was missing and was never found.
Investigators also discovered a message Wonsom left on Campbell’s answering machine: “Hey, boo, I’m on my way home. I was just calling to see if you wanted something. I should be there — it’s 4:05 — I should be there about 15, 20 minutes. I’m stopping to get some Listerine and a couple of sodas. Love you. Bye bye.”
But in his interview police, Wonsom told investigators those where the items Campbell already asked him to go to the store for, Hamill said.
Investigators also learning Campbell told friends she was scared of Wonsom and wanted to move out of the apartment.
“One of her beat partners that she worked with in D.C. that, like, worked in an adjoining beat with her, she had spoken to him as recently as Thursday before she was killed — so, two nights before — and told him if I don’t come show up for work on Saturday, then you’ll know he killed me,” Hamill said.
The state’s attorney’s office will not say why the murder charge was dropped.
Juanita Eggleston, who was a police cadet with Campbell and served on the D.C. police force with her, said she can’t believe her friend has been gone almost 30 years.
“That’s a long time, a very long time,” she said. “I believe in this world there’s karma in the world. What you put out in the world you get back.”
News4 called and left messages for Wonsom but hasn’t heard back.
Hamill said she is still looking for help in the case.
“Or even moving forward from 29 years to now, anybody that has heard any information about Deena Campbell or what may have happened to her,” she said.
“I have peace but I will have better peace when we get to a resolution,” Eggleston said.
Felony warning issued as arrests reported at Reflecting Pool
Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
WASHINGTON – Federal officials are warning visitors that taking paint chips, debris or other materials from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool could lead to felony charges as crews continue cleaning up a major algae bloom that has turned the landmark’s water bright green.
The warning comes after authorities reported multiple arrests Saturday involving people accused of removing material from the Reflecting Pool.
Algae, paint problems plague Reflecting Pool
What we know:
While officials have not released the exact number of arrests or identified those taken into custody, law enforcement agencies said anyone caught taking paint chips or debris from the site could face serious criminal penalties.
Visitors have reported seeing blue paint chips floating in the water as cleanup crews use mobile draining machines to remove algae and restore the pool. The unusual appearance of the Reflecting Pool has attracted large crowds to the National Mall in recent days, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that work on the Reflecting Pool would begin immediately and claimed several arrests had been made in connection with what he described as deliberate sabotage of the site.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific charges filed in the reported arrests. However, federal officials warned that removing government property from the Reflecting Pool could result in felony charges, and prosecutors could pursue more serious offenses if evidence shows anyone intentionally contaminated the water or caused additional damage.
READ MORE: Reflecting Pool looks ‘like vomit,’ visitors say; crews continue cleaning job
“If there are more serious products that are put into the Reflecting Pool to create more algae or a bigger problem, then we’ll consider more serious charges,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro told Fox News. “But make no mistake, making D.C. beautiful is a priority and if you damage, vandalize or do anything to impact something like the Reflecting Pool, you can be prosecuted.”
What’s next:
The Reflecting Pool remains under active cleanup as officials investigate the cause of the algae bloom, according to the president.
According to federal contract data, a more extensive renovation, including potentially draining the pool again, could cost more than $14 million.
The Source: Information from FOX 5 D.C. reporting, President Donald Trump, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and other federal officials.
Washington, D.C
Jeanine Pirro vows DC Reflecting Pool vandals will be ‘prosecuted to the fullest extent’ | Fox News Video
U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro joins ‘The Sunday Briefing’ to discuss vandalism at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the broader issue of crime in the nation’s capital.
: U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro joins Peter Doocy to discuss the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism after a $14 million renovation. Pirro addresses President Trump’s accusations against ABC reporter Jonathan Karl for tampering with the pool. She emphasizes Trump’s commitment to making D.C. safe and beautiful by prosecuting all violations of law, including minor crimes, to foster respect.
WASHINGTON (7News) — Two men were injured in a shooting Saturday night in Northwest Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Third District officers responded around 10:08 p.m. to the 900 block of Florida Avenue NW after receiving reports of a shooting.
ALSO SEE | Man dies after early-morning shooting in DC’s Shaw neighborhood
When officers arrived, they found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.
D.C. Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and took both victims to hospitals for treatment. Authorities said the injuries were considered non-life-threatening.
Investigators have not released a description of any suspects, and no arrests have been announced as of Sunday.
READ ALSO | Suspect in Shaw Metro fatal shooting of AU grad appears in D.C. Superior Court
Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at 202-727-9099 or submit anonymous tips by texting 50411.
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