A Statement on the Tragic Murder in Friendship Heights
| On New Year’s Day, the life of Ashlei Hinds, a vibrant young woman in her first semester of college, was brutally cut short by gun violence in a Friendship Heights hotel room. We send our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Ashlei Hinds for this terrible and tragic loss. We have been in communication with our partners in the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) from the beginning. Though heartened that the suspect is in custody, we are deeply saddened by the loss of life and concerned about the rise of gun violence and crime in DC and regionally. As an organization we are committed to strongly advocate for the safety of our neighbors, visitors and community with our DC MPD and Montgomery County Police Department partners and local government officials. We encourage you to attend the public safety meeting organized by Council Member Matthew Frumin on January 17 at the Cleveland Park Library at 6PM to get further information about DC’s crime and gun violence reduction strategies and to ask questions directly to MPD’s Chief of Police and Attorney General. Here is a link to Councilmember Frumin's statement about the incident. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions and concerns, and please continue to stay safe, and stay together. ~ Natalie Avery, Friendship Heights Alliance Executive Director |