UPDATE 10/18 AM: According to WUSA9 the victim has died from a gunshot to the back during a robbery at the gas station. Video posted below of the scene right after the shooting  and comments from two ANC Commissioners on the scene.

Triple sigh. As I and fellow Ward 8 residents were leaving the UPO Petey Greene Center after tonight's Congress Heights Community Association meeting we come out to a shooting next door at the King Gas Station on the 2900 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE.

Tonight's topic was, "Is Congress Heights a ghetto?"

While I know that there will be "jokes" and snarky comments about the irony of tonight's events there is nothing the least bit funny or amusing or even expected about what happened.

Crime happens everywhere whether it be Congress Heights or Georgetown and it is deplorable, despicable, and should never be tolerated, least of all expected.

As residents of Congress Heights we continue to stand strong.

We are not defeated and we will continue to fight for and advocate for our community.

We are strong.

Please keep the family of tonight's victims in your thoughts and prayers. Will update as soon as I get information on his condition.

If you have any information about tonight's shooting at the King Gas Station next to the UPO Petey Greene Center in Congress Heights please call the police.  You may remain anonymous. Please call if you know anything.

Scene right after we left the Congress Heights Community Association meeting. The shooting happened next door at the King Gas Station.

Members of the media are allowed to use the footage but must credit Congress Heights on the Rise (www.congressheightsontherise.com). 



Words from ANC 8E Commissioner Sandra Seegars



Words from ANC 8B Commissioner (and Ward 8 Council candidate) Darell Gaston