Prince George's firefighter Garry Stanley among 2 killed in DC over violent weekend
WASHINGTON D.C. (7News) — It was another violent weekend in the District. At least nine people were shot and two died in just 48 hours.
A Prince George’s County firefighter is dead after a shooting in Southwest D.C. Saturday night near Nats Park.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to the 1300 block of Half Street, SW around 11:08 p.m. and found two men and one woman suffering from gunshot wounds.
Police say the woman was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. One man was treated on the scene for minor injuries and the third victim was pronounced dead on the scene. The man has been identified as 44-year-old Garry Stanley, Sr., of Fort Washington, Md.
This comes after Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Friday a fall crime initiative to fight the rising trend of murders in Washington, D.C.
As of Friday, homicides were up nine percent in the District from last year.
SEE ALSO | 1 dead, 5 others wounded in Southwest DC shooting , police say
“We just spoke last Friday together,” one of Stanley’s cousins told 7News.
7News on Your Side met Stanley’s family as they arrived at the location where he was killed.
“He’s an only child,” Stanley’s mother said. “He’s my one and only.”
His mother spoke to 7News on the phone -- telling us how much he loved saving lives as a firefighter - and helping the homeless.
“He saved lives and he worked at the shelter helping get homeless people off the street,” his uncle said.
“Yes, the last years before they closed the DC shelter down he did, he loved people,” Stanley’s mother said.
He was married and a father to three.
“He was a great father, a supportive father, he loved his kids,” one of his cousin’s told 7News.
Stanley’s youngest child is 13 years-old.
Their message to city officials is this.
“I pray for my family as well as the people who did this and I pray we can stop the one-on-one killing - the black-on-black killing,” another family member said.
The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department posted on their Facebook page Sunday morning, mourning the loss of one of their members.
"It is with great sadness the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department announces the death of Firefighter Garry Stanley," they wrote.
Fire officials say Stanley was a member of the department for more than 19 years.
"Please keep Garry’s family and brothers and sisters in the fire service in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," the department wrote.
"Garry will be remembered most for his compassion, great laugh, and contagious smile. His loss is another tremendous blow to our Department, as we have endured our share of tragedies in recent years," said the Prince George's County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association on Facebook.
D.C police offer a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for each homicide committed in the District. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099.
