In Face Of Losses, A Fight to Save Area

Standing near the crime scene as police marked a half-dozen shell casings, residents again expressed their outrage to Graham, hours after they had met with him earlier that evening.

"There is no sense of lawfulness in this neighborhood," said Paul Whatling, who bought a condo on Fairmont Street 2 1/2 years ago. "We've gone back to the old days. That's what we're upset about. This in the last week, this is the worst it's ever been."

Discomforting scenes reminiscent of the old days are common, residents say. Drug buyers cruise in cars with Maryland and Virginia license plates. People brazenly smoke marijuana on the sidewalk. Crack addicts light up in alleys.

Residents say they are living in a danger zone. On the Thursday night before last week's shootings, alarmed residents called police when 50 neighborhood toughs battled in a street brawl. It was the latest in what neighbors believe are squabbles between a Fairmont street group and another crew located a few blocks to the north.

Lifelong resident Gildeon Israel, 49, has seen this kind of "beefing" happen almost annually. But it has grown worse, he said, because young outlaws are shooting into areas, paying no heed to the children playing around them.

"They don't have no respect for the kids, the older folks or the neighborhood," Israel said.

D.C. police Lt. James "Bart" Dykes said that he has been directing officers to make drug arrests around 14th and Girard streets and 14th and Fairmont streets. Police also have cleaned up the Girard Street park, the focus of complaints about loitering and drinking.

Yesterday, Dykes oversaw the outdoor roll call for street officers and spent $300 out of his own pocket to buy hamburgers and hot dogs for neighbors. He wanted to show how committed he is to making life safer in the neighborhood.

"I really use my resources to the best of my ability," Dykes said. But, noting last week's shootings, he added: "For me, it's frustrating."