27-Year-old reporter shot dead after being used as a human shield in the crossfire of biker gang shootout
27-Year-old reporter shot dead after being used as a human shield in the crossfire of biker gang shootout
A 27-year-old reporter in Washington DC was shot dead after she was grabbed and used as a human shield while walking to catch the bus after covering a monthly meeting.
Charnice Milton of Southeast was headed back to the home she shared with her mother when a man or older teen on a dirt bike with a group of riders fired at another group of bike riders.
The intended victim used Milton as a human shield and she was shot in the chest around 9,40pm on Wednesday evening.
After police arrived, Milton was taken to a nearby hospital where she died, WJLA reported.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Cathy Lanier have been in touch with Milton’s parents to offer their support, according to FOX 5.
Ken McClenton, the victim’s father said: ‘What we do know is that out of cowardice, a young man grabbed my daughter and put himself between the bullet and his life.’
Another person was killed during a shooting on the Anacostia Freeway on Thursday morning, the Washington Post reported.
Forty-nine people have been killed in DC in 2014, up from 45 during the same time period last year.
A graduate of Ball State University who earned a Master’s from Syracuse, Milton covered Wards 6, 7 and 8 for the Capital Community News and was on her way home from the monthly meeting of the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee.
Managing Editor Andrew Lightman said: ‘We deeply regret the loss of our valuable colleague, Charnice Milton.
‘Her death was senseless. She was an intrepid, talented community reporter.
‘Our readers will miss her contributions.’
Milton covered areas other journalists didn’t always enter, NBC Washington reported.
Ward 8 resident advocate Nikki Peele said: ‘The story was being told by people who did not live here, and it took those citizen journalists like Charnice who gave the true story.
‘She ate with us, she shopped with us, she worshiped with us.’
The victim began contributing to CCN in 2012.
Mayor Bowser said on Thursday: ‘We want to know. We know that people were in and around the area.
‘We have gotten very little information and we need the public to provide that information so Charnice’s killer can be captured.’
Anyone who has information regarding this case is asked to call police at 202-727-9099.
