Man found fatally shot in Southeast Washington

A 27-year-old Southeast Washington man was found fatally shot in the District early Monday.

The shooting left the city's homicide total for 2010 well below that of the corresponding period a year ago, indicating that last year's sharp decline in the rate of killings in the city might be continuing.

Police arrived in the 1300 block of Stevens Road SE about 12:25 a.m. Monday to investigate a report of a shooting. Officers found a man in an alley who had been shot at least twice. He was identified as Lamare Larkins of the 3000 block of Stanton Road SE. Officers said they did not know of a motive.

On Monday, the D.C. police Web site said there had been nine homicides this year. The corresponding figure last year was 14, the site said.

On Jan. 1, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced that the number of homicides in the District in 2009 had been the fewest in a year since 1966. The 2009 figure, 143, was 23 percent less than the 186 homicides reported for 2008.

Homicide figures dropped nationally as well, but the District's decline was larger. Police said at the time that the rate at which officers were closing homicide cases was also increasing.

In one of the most recent homicide arrests, police said that a 17-year-old was charged Thursday with felony murder while armed in an incident Jan. 10.

The suspect's name was not released because of his age, police said. He was charged in the death of Gordon R. Rivers, 47, of Brandywine, who was found fatally wounded about 5:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of Naylor Road SE.