Mayor Bowser and Police Chief Lanier held a press conference this afternoon regarding violent crime and homicide in DC and the uptick in incidents this summer. They also announced an arrest in a recent murder.

Today Zacchaeus Blanding was arrested in the brutal murder of Heineken McNeil. Mr. NcNeil was found murdered on Holbrook Terrace NE on June 23rd. Initially this murder was thought to be the result of a neighborhood feud and that belief sparked other violence in Trinidad, according to Mayor Bowser and Chief Lanier. It was not a rivalry or a feud but in fact the suspect and victim were friends and knew each other. The suspect and victim were noted to be associates in the same neighborhood.

Zacchaeus Blanding, aged 19, has been charged with second degree murder. Chief Lanier would not comment on possible motives for the murder.

Our thoughts are with Heineken McNeil’s family as they mourn and seek closure.

The MPD Press Release is below:

Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Arrest made in Homicide 1200 block of Holbrook Terrace Northeast
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide that occurred on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at approximately 5:42 am.

Members of the Fifth District and DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the report of a fire in the 1200 block of Holbrook Terrace, Northeast. Upon extinguishing the fire, human remains were discovered.

On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, members of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds and the manner of death is homicide.

On Wednesday, July 8, 2015 pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) arrested 19 year-old Zacchaeus Blanding of Northeast, DC. He was charged with Murder Two While Armed for the shooting death of 19 year-old Heineken McNeil.