Deaths of 3 D.C. Teens In 24 Hours Shock City

Two adults were slain in the same 24-hour stretch this week.

The burst of violence comes toward the end of the city's crime emergency, which was declared in July after a spike in homicides and robberies. As part of the emergency, the city pushed back its juvenile curfew to 10 p.m., and police got $8 million for overtime and increased patrols across the city.

Ramsey and other police officials said the steps have had an impact on street violence. But he said he is not ready to ask for the crime emergency to be prolonged and added: "This runs a whole lot deeper than police deployment."

Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) said yesterday that he expects to extend the earlier curfew hours when they expire tomorrow and to introduce legislation to extend other provisions of the crime emergency legislation.

Council member Adrian M. Fenty (D-Ward 4), the Democratic mayoral nominee, said in a statement that he wants more than short-term fixes. He voted last summer against the crime emergency package.

"I will continue to advocate for long-term, proactive solutions," Fenty said. "While I firmly believe that the police department must be both tough on crime and engaged in the community, the recent slayings of young people in this city are proof that superficial measures will not solve the problem."

Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) is planning a candlelight vigil tonight at the site of the first in the spate of homicides, which happened Sunday night in the 3400 block of 13th Place SE.

Police said 14-year-old Andre Pee and 32-year-old Curtis Watkins were fatally shot about 11 p.m. on the dead-end block, which is notorious for drug dealing and gunfire. A 15-year-old was slain on the same block on New Year's Eve.

Pee had just started his first year at Ballou Senior High School. Police said they had picked him up twice this year for curfew violations.

On Monday, while authorities were sorting out what happened to Pee and Watkins, police were called to a construction site near 51st Street and Sheriff Road NE and found Dixon. He had been missing since Saturday. A family friend had found him with purple marks around his neck and wrists.

Dixon began the school year at Ronald H. Brown Middle School but was to start classes this week at Spingarn Senior High.

Police have released few details about his death.