Three Homicides Reported in D.C. in January

Two vehicular deaths and one shooting incident make up the city's January homicide count

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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According to data from D.C. Witness, there were three reported homicide incidents and four victims in Washington, D.C. in January 2026. Two of the incidents were vehicular deaths, while the third was a shooting. The Metropolitan Police Department has identified one suspect so far among the three cases.

Why it matters

Homicides are a serious concern for the D.C. community, and the city has made efforts to reduce violent crime in recent years. These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges the city faces in maintaining public safety, especially related to traffic accidents and gun violence.

The details

In the first vehicular homicide, 20-year-old Santana Matthews is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly striking and killing 26-year-old Aaron Williams on January 7. The second vehicular death involved 32-year-old MPD Officer Terry Bennett, who succumbed to injuries from being struck by a high-speed vehicle on December 23, 2025 - 47-year-old Jerrold Coates is charged in that case. The third incident was a fatal shooting on January 21 that killed 18-year-old Malik Moore. MPD has not identified suspects in the other two homicides, which involved pedestrian William Gardner being struck and killed by a vehicle on January 3.

  • On January 7, Santana Matthews allegedly struck and killed Aaron Williams.
  • On December 23, 2025, Officer Terry Bennett was struck by a high-speed vehicle, and he died from his injuries on January 7, 2026.
  • On January 3, William Gardner was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking in the roadway.
  • On January 21, 18-year-old Malik Moore was fatally shot.

The players

Santana Matthews

A 20-year-old charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in a vehicular homicide on January 7.

Aaron Williams

A 26-year-old who was killed in the January 7 vehicular homicide incident.

Terry Bennett

A 32-year-old MPD officer who died on January 7 from injuries sustained when he was struck by a high-speed vehicle on December 23, 2025.

Jerrold Coates

A 47-year-old charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in Officer Bennett's death.

William Gardner

A 60-year-old pedestrian who was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking in the roadway on January 3.

Malik Moore

An 18-year-old who was fatally shot on January 21.

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What they’re saying

“We must continue to work together as a community to address the root causes of violence and make our streets safer for all.”

— Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington, D.C. (dcwitness.org)

What’s next

The judge in the Santana Matthews and Jerrold Coates cases will hold preliminary hearings on February 27 and February 10, respectively, to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed with the charges. The Metropolitan Police Department is still investigating the other two homicide incidents and is offering rewards for information that leads to arrests.

The takeaway

These tragic homicides underscore the ongoing challenges D.C. faces in addressing violent crime, particularly related to traffic safety and gun violence. While the city has made progress, more work is needed to protect residents and make the streets safer for all.