Arrest and Assault
MPD investigates sexual assault on transgender woman near Dupont, reports claim of self-defense in King homicide
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred near the 2000 block of P Street NW during the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 13. According to MPD, “The complainant reports that she was grabbed by the suspect who placed his hand over her mouth.
“The suspect removed the complainant’s clothes and sexually assaulted the complainant. The suspect then fled the area on foot. The complainant is a member of the transgender community.”
As of Monday, Aug. 16, MPD Public Information Officer Gwen Crump said police are “still investigating” and new information may be released this week.
Gays and Lesbians Opposing Violence (GLOV) was informed of the assault through an MPD e-mail addressed to leaders of community groups, such as GLOV.
GLOV co-chair Kelly Pickard tells Metro Weekly the organization is very concerned about this attack, as well as several other recent attacks involving elements of anti-gay bias.
“We were sort of told at [an MPD] bias task force meeting that the numbers [of assaults] were significantly down as compared to numbers over the past five years,” Pickard says.
Joe Montoni, GLOV’s other co-chair, adds: “Our concern is that we think maybe rather than there being a decrease in crime, it could be more of an issue of a lack of properly reporting or recording crimes that are bias-related.”
Pointing to the other recent attacks, including the stabbing murder of D.C. resident Delando King, Pickard says, “It seems to paint a contrasting picture. While we’re hearing that violent crime is down in the District, the last two weeks are indicating that it is not going down as far as our track record for bias crimes against the LGBT community.”
Regarding King’s murder, police filed an affidavit with the D.C. Superior Court this week offering more details about his homicide.
According to the report, an autopsy revealed that King, who was found dead by police inside his apartment at 1117 10th St. NW, on Aug. 9, was stabbed approximately 30 times, five of which penetrated his heart. The affidavit goes on to say that Mclean claims he stabbed King in self-defense.
At approximately 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 14, police arrested Marcus Mclean on the 2100 block of P Street NW for First Degree Murder While Armed (Premeditated) in the King homicide.
According to the police affidavit, King’s bedroom, in which he was found, appeared to have been searched and his cell phone and wallet were missing. King’s body “appeared to have been doused with bleach,” the report states.
During the investigation, police found that surveillance footage from the lobby of King’s apartment building shows King and Mclean entering together. Approximately 55 minute later, Mclean is seen leaving the building with a “lime green bag that he did not initially bring.”
Further investigation, including surveillance video and bank records, revealed that around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 8, both Mclean and King were at Omega, a gay bar located at 2122 P St. NW.
At that time King “was in possession of his wallet.” Surveillance video from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center captured King and Mclean walking from The Passenger, a bar at 1021 7th St. NW, toward King’s apartment holding hands.
After Mclean left King’s apartment, bank records show that King’s check card was used at a CVS Pharmacy and later at a Regal Movie Theater in Silver Spring.
Mclean is being held at the D.C. Jail without bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 7.
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