Six Halloween night shootings in Washington, D.C.; House wants to tighten D.C. hiring practices; Illegal immigrant gets felony murder in fatal accident; Detective in Lululemon murder trial describes Norwood interviews; Top Virginia Republicans slam Obama-zombie email; Judge: Gray must testify over lottery contract; Garagiola makes first campaign stops in Western Maryland.
At least six people were shot across Washington, D.C., on Halloween, including a juvenile who was shot in the head in Georgetown, according to authorities. D.C. police say the boy was shot amid celebrations in the 2800 block of M Street about 11 p.m. Monday. Police say a juvenile also was shot on M Street Northeast at about 8:30 p.m. Shortly afterward, officers responded to the intersection of Georgia Avenue and Decatur Street Northwest for a double shooting. Later, a woman was shot on Crittenden Street Northwest. A man was shot on Southern Avenue Southeast, according to the Associated Press.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will consider a bill Thursday that tightens hiring practices in D.C. government, even as the District considers its own reforms after some appointees landed jobs at city hall through nepotism and other fast-track channels, according to The Washington Times.
An illegal immigrant who fatally struck a Benedictine nun while driving drunk was found guilty in Prince William County on Monday of felony murder — a case that sparked outrage in a county at the forefront of debates on local enforcement of federal immigration laws, The Times reports.
The suspects described by Brittany Norwood as the attackers in the Lululemon Athletica store slaying were just too malicious to be believable, a Montgomery County Police detective testified Monday in court about the first time he started doubting the defendant’s story. “It was like a movie,” said Detective Dimitry Ruvin, recounting the elaborate cover-up story Ms. Norwood provided. The first-degree murder trial entered its second week Monday with testimony from police and DNA and blood-spatter experts. Ms. Norwood is accused of brutally slaying co-worker Jayna Murray, 30, during a fight inside the Bethesda Row store where they worked, then doctoring the crime scene to make it appear as though two men had sexually assaulted her and killed Ms. Murray. Closing arguments could begin Wednesday, The Times reports.
Top Virginia Republicans are slamming a Halloween email sent by the Loudoun County Republican committee that takes the iconic Shepard Fairey image of President Obama, depicting him as a zombie with a bullet hole through his head. The Republican Party of Virginia and Gov. Bob McDonnell were quick to condemn the email, The Times reports.
A federal judge has compelled Mayor Vincent C. Gray and two council members to testify about a controversial lottery contract awarded in 2008. The order by U.S. District Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson means Mr. Gray and member Jack Evans, Ward 2 Democrat, and Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat, must sit down for depositions in the matter of Eric Payne v. District of Columbia no later than Nov. 14, The Times reports.
Maryland state Senate Majority Leader Rob Garagiola is making his run for Congress official. The Montgomery County Democrat is doing a series of appearances Tuesday, starting in Frederick, to announce his candidacy for the 6th District seat held by 10-term Republican Roscoe Bartlett. The race was made competitive by redistricting. The Democrats who control Maryland government redrew the 6th District map to include what they hope will be more Democratic and fewer Republican voters. Mr. Garagiola is pushing an aggressive jobs agenda and promising to protect senior citizens living on Medicare and Social Security, according to the Associated Press.
• Joseph Weber can be reached at jweber@washingtontimes.com.old.
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