Man Killed In Metro Bus Stop Shooting

VIA MYFOXDC:

WASHINGTON – A man who was shot as he tried to board a Metro bus in Northeast D.C. on Wednesday has died, and a lawyer for his family says the victim was the brother of a teen who was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer in 2007.

The bus stop where the shooting happened is located near the intersection of 14th and H Streets. Police say the victim has just stepped onto the bus when he was hit by gunfire.

A family lawyer, Greg Latimer, says the victim is 21-year-old George Rawlings— the brother of 14-year-old Deonte Rawlings, a young man shot and killed by an off-duty officer back in 2007.

“It was like – boom, boom, boom, boom, boom– six or seven shots,” said mayoral candidate Sulaimon Brown.

Brown happened to be jogging nearby when the shooting happened. He said a crowd of people scattered, and many ran toward a nearby funeral home.

“They ran into the funeral house and people were driving cars back around the corner,” said Brown. “It was like really crazy.”

“The bus driver for his own safety, drove down the road and sought medical treatment,” said Pat Burke.

George Rawlings died at the scene. Police believe there were no passengers on the Metro bus.

Latimer says George Rawlings had just left a funeral for 19-year-old Ashton Hunter, who was shot and killed on Halloween. The lawyer says George Rawlings was a witness to the Halloween shooting.

Latimer says George Rawlings has been hiding for the last week or so, and friends and relatives urged Rawlings not to go to Wednesday morning’s funeral. Latimer says the boys’ father is “devastated.”

The Rawlings family is no stranger to tragedy. Back in 2007, George’s brother, Deonte Rawlings, was shot in the head by an off-duty D.C. police officer. Police said Rawlings fired first after the off-duty officer confronted him about a stolen mini-bike.

The U.S. attorney eventually ruled that the two officers involved in that shooting fired in self-defense.

There have been no arrests in Wednesday’s shooting, and police are searching for several suspects.

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