THE NEWS:

The family and friends of Malachi Lukes celebrated his birthday on March 5 without him. The teen was shot and killed near the Shaw-Howard U Metro station just four days earlier. Thursday would have been Malachi’s 14th birthday.

There have been no arrests in the murder of Malachi, and the motive for the killing remains unknown. Malachi is one of 29 homicide victims in D.C. Two months into the year and it’s already an especially deadly one. The city is demanding solutions from lawmakers. 

Speak to most lawmakers and they’ll say a multifaceted approach is needed to curb the violence. Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen, chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, tells me: “A response has to be many things all at once—that includes [The Metropolitan Police Department], that includes violence interruption—violence intervention—that includes the kinds of social services that can wrap around a young person who might be in trauma or might be in trouble and finding ways to intervene in that. We have to do all of that. It’s not just a single solution.” 

Community distrust of the police is real. Interview after interview with residents says as much. The latest detailed stop-and-frisk data show that over 70 percent of the 63,000 residents stopped over the course of five months were black, while 14 percent were white. Do the data demonstrate bias? MPD wants further analysis before the public jumps to any conclusions.

Read about how the community is responding to Malachi’s murder online.

—Amanda Michelle Gomez (tips? Email agomez@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

CITY DESK LINKS, by Amanda Michelle Gomez:

  • Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declares a state of emergency after three residents—all in Montgomery County—test positive for coronavirus. [WTOP]

  • Why a plan to build new homes at the Park Morton project for longtime residents of gentrifying Park View is now displacing them. [WAMU] 

  • The developers of Adams Morgan’s Line Hotel failed to meet hiring requirements needed to obtain a $46 million tax subsidy, according to an independent audit. [Post]

LOOSE LIPS LINKS, by Mitch Ryals (tips? mryals@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Jordan Grossman doesn’t have much to say about the polls in Ward 2. [WCP]

  • Jack Evans’apologies met with boos during Ward 2 candidate forum. [Post, WAMU]

  • Former councilmember Harry Thomas Jr., who served time in prison for stealing public money from kids, was sworn in as a Ward 5 committeeman in the local Democratic party. [Twitter]

  • Ward 4 candidate Renee Bowser drops out of the race. [Twitter]

  • Betting on NFL games in Maryland is now tied to construction of a new stadium for Dan Snyder’s team. [WTOP, Post]

  • Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen is on the Politics Hour today. [Kojo]

YOUNG & HUNGRY LINKS, by Laura Hayes (tips? lhayes@washingtoncitypaper.com) 

  • Get a first look at the plant-based menu at Oyster Oyster opening later this month. [WCP]

  • Critic Tom Sietsema tries Wafu pasta and pizza restaurant, Tonari. [Post]

ARTS LINKS, by Kayla Randall(tips? krandall@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • This year’s New African Film Festival celebrates and rediscovers cinematic history. [WCP]

  • A woman-owned record shop in Maryland forges a new path in the vinyl market. [DCist]

  • A new HBO documentary dissects Pizzagate and features a ton of D.C. people. [Washingtonian]

SPORTS LINKS, by Kelyn Soong (tips? ksoong@washingtoncitypaper.com)

  • The Maryland men’s basketball team gets another shot at the Big Ten regular season title this Sunday at home against Michigan. It’ll also be senior day for Anthony Cowan Jr. and walk-ons Will Clark and Travis Valmon. [InsideMDSports]

  • Trent Williams has been given permission to seek a trade. [ESPN]

  • CBS will air the NWSL opener between the Washington Spirit and Reign FC on April 18, giving the league and the local team some national TV exposure. [Black & Red United]

CITY LIGHTS, by Emma Sarappo (Love this section? Get the full City Lights [Formerly To Do This Week] newsletter here. Tips? esarappo@washingtoncitypaper.com)

Emma Sarappo is away from her desk today, but she’s got your weekend (and week!) ahead covered.[WCP]

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