Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are currently investigating a homicide which occurred in the 6200 block of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>7th Street, NW.

At approximately 9:28 pm on Sunday, February 21, 2010, officers from the Fourth District were dispatched to the 6200 block of 7th Street, NW, for the report of an unconscious male.  Upon their arrival, they located the victim lying in the street in the 6200 block of 7th Street, NW. The victim was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.  The victim was transported by personnel from the DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where he was subsequently pronounced dead.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

The victim in this case has been identified as 15-year-old Joel Watkins of the 600 block of Jefferson Street, NW.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIM [E] (1-888-919-2746).

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.

Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to DC CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS and to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. If the information provided by the caller to the Crime Solvers Unit leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.