REGIONAL BRIEFING

Monday, October 22, 2007

THE DISTRICT

Woman Apparently Fatally Shot

A 20-year-old District woman who had apparently been fatally shot was found early yesterday in Northeast Washington, D.C. police said.

Ashley M. Black of the 1200 block of North Capitol Street NW was found about 3:30 a.m. in the 900 block of 21st Street NE, where a shooting had been reported, police said. She was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead, they said.

-- Martin Weil

2 Police Officers Injured in Crash

Two D.C. police officers were injured yesterday morning when their motorcycles collided while escorting the Arizona Cardinals football team to FedEx Field to play the Washington Redskins, authorities said.

The accident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 395 near Maine Avenue SW, Capt. Burt Henry said. The officers were escorting the team members from their Northern Virginia hotel to the stadium in Prince George's County, Henry said.

The officers were taken to a hospital and are recovering from injuries that were not life-threatening, Henry said.

-- Philip Rucker

MARYLAND

U-Md. Solar House Wins Award

The University of Maryland team captured the BP Solar People's Choice Award on Saturday for its energy-efficient, solar-powered house in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon, a day after winning second place in the international competition.

The Terps team, made up of architecture and engineering students, received the most votes from visitors to the Decathlon site over nine days.

The Maryland team placed just behind a team from Darmstadt, Germany, and ahead of all other U.S. teams in the competitions that make up the decathlon, categories that rate the house's appearance and performance. The Terps' LEAFHouse features a waterfall inside to help cool the air and is powered entirely by the sun.

Woman Dies When Car Hits Pole

A 75-year-old Bowie woman was killed yesterday when her car struck a traffic-light pole on Laurel-Bowie Road in the northeastern part of Prince George's County, police said.

Anna Thompson was southbound about 11:30 a.m. on Laurel-Bowie Road, also known as Route 197. She sideswiped a car, causing her vehicle to go out of control, police said. It crossed lanes, struck the pole and came to rest on another vehicle, police said.

-- Martin Weil

Trooper Kills Himself in Public

A Maryland state trooper shot and killed himself Saturday on a street corner in downtown Frederick, police said.

Sgt. Pride Rivers, a 20-year veteran who led the department's extradition unit, shot himself in the head about 11:30 a.m. at West South and South Bentz streets. State police said the 43-year-old from Frederick tried to speak to his wife at her mother's home and another home in the area but was refused. Witnesses told police that they heard a gunshot after Rivers walked around the corner.

Police said Rivers's .40-caliber pistol was found beside him. It was not his duty weapon.

-- Associated Press

VIRGINIA

Homicide Victim Is Identified

Fairfax City police have identified the victim of a Thursday homicide as Dexter Otto Richardson, 50.

His girlfriend, Fawn C. Scott, 31, was arrested at the scene and later charged with murder. She is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Richardson and Scott had an altercation inside his apartment in the 10700 block of Warwick Avenue, police said. Richardson was stabbed in the upper body about 5 p.m. He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he died. The homicide was the first in Fairfax City since May 2006.

-- Kristen Mack