Yesterday, 23-year-old William Cordova, of no fixed address, was charged with First Degree Murder While Armed in connection with the murder of Edwin B. Ventura.  Members of the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>United States Marshals Service’s Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force transported Cordova from Greensboro, North Carolina to DC and turned him over to detectives at the Metropolitan Police Department’s Violent Crimes Branch. 

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At approximately 12:35 am on Sunday, April 22, 2007, several men were standing on the corner of Sherman Avenue and Columbia Road, NW.  It was at this time that two black males, dressed in dark clothing, reportedly approached them.  At least one of the men allegedly pronounced a handgun and began shooting before fleeing.  One man, identified as 18-year-old Edwin B. Ventura, of the 1400 block of Harvard Street, NW, was found suffering from apparent multiple gunshot wounds.  He was taken to the HowardUniversityHospital and pronounced dead at 1:12 am.  A second 18-year-old male was located a short distance away suffering from apparent gunshot wounds to both legs.  He was taken to an area hospital and admitted.