Man killed by stray shot into his Northwest DC home

A stray shot flew into a man’s home in Northwest D.C. on Sunday evening and killed him, police say they believe according to an initial investigation.

The man was 59-year-old Jose Carcamo of Northwest D.C.

Officers were called to an apartment building in the 1500 block of Ogden Street, in the Columbia Heights neighborhood, at about 6:20 p.m., Executive Asst. Chief Andre Wright told reporters later Sunday.

The man was found in an apartment suffering from a gunshot wound. D.C. medics treated the man but he died, Wright said, calling his death “tragic.”

D.C. police have not yet made any arrests, but they say Carcamo was not the intended target.

“We don’t believe that this shooting, which happened in the rear of this location, has anything to do with him,” Wright said.

It started as a normal Sunday evening. Carcamo was eating dinner at his home in Columbia Heights. His mom was in another room when she heard the sound of gunshots and rushed to check on him, only to realize he’d been killed.

Carcamo’s mom lives in El Salvador and had to come to D.C. to spend Mother’s Day with her son.

He worked in construction and was in the process of building a house for her in their home country.

Officers were searching for clues and working to speak with potential witnesses. No information on a suspect was released.

Police will seek justice for the victim, his family and his community, Wright said.

“We can’t shrink in fear. I think that’s what these perpetrators want – but they’re wrong. And so we intend to stand alongside this family and community and bring justice to this community, and for as long as it takes, stay here to help restore the sense of peace that every community deserves,” he said.

Anyone with potentially relevant information is asked to contact police. A $25,000 reward for information is available.

Police say they’re now trying to find surveillance video to help with the investigation, as Carcamo’s mom is now left to grieve her son.

D.C. crime statistics show homicides are down 8% this year compared to the same period last year, with 61 victims this year and 66 last year. Reports of violent crime are down 22%.

Police records show in the past five years, the area around Ogden Street has had seven homicides, 52 assaults with a dangerous weapon and 101 robberies.

One neighbor said it’s why he’s planning to move out.

“People want to feel safe in their neighborhoods, and I just have not ever felt safe in this one,” said neighbor Nacho Echazarreta.

Several other neighbors didn’t want to be identified but also told News4 they feel unsafe in the area.