Christmas Eve party in District ends in fatal shooting

A 21-year-old Upper Marlboro man was shot and killed early Christmas morning inside a Northwest Washington rowhouse, police said, apparently as a result of an argument that broke out during a party.

A 21-year-old woman and a second man, age 24, were also shot, but not fatally, D.C. police said.

The triple shooting unfolded at 5 a.m. inside 5401 Fourth St. NW at Jefferson Street in Brightwood. D.C. police said officers were summoned to the rowhouse shortly before 5 a.m. and found all three victims there. The shooter apparently had fled.

Miguel Angel Romero was pronounced dead at the rowhouse, police said. The two other victims were transported to a hospital and admitted in critical but stable condition. Police said their identities are being withheld because they are witnesses in the case.

"Preliminary investigation indicates that the victims were shot as the result of a verbal altercation at a social gathering," the police statement said.

A police spokesman said detectives were optimistic an arrest will be forthcoming.

Several neighbors said that as many as a dozen men recently moved into the house and that loud parties and fighting were common. But neighbors were stunned to learn that three people had been shot.

"I've lived here 46 years, and we've never had anything like this in the neighborhood before," said one 71-year-old resident, who declined to give her name because she said she feared for her safety.

Staff writer Tim Craig contributed to this report.