The brutal beating of a 29-year-old solar energy analyst lies in a well-to-do area near the U.S. Capitol focused attention on a 56 percent violent crime rise in one of the capital’s “edge neighborhoods,” reports the Washington Examiner. Thomas Maslin was found early Saturday morning on a doorstep with his head beaten in. He is in a hospital fighting for his life.
Armed robberies in D.C. are up 23 percent this year. “We are working tirelessly to address ALL types of robberies throughout the city through comprehensive strategies, Police Chief Cathy Lanier told the newspaper. “We have several teams of officers conducting a variety of patrol strategies and tactics to prevent robberies and to also arrest offenders.” The Capitol Riverfront, the area where the first-place Washington Nationals are playing — has seen violent crime spike to 60 incidents so far this year compared with 46 last year. “There’s some things about our neighborhood that make it a good target,” said Ivan Frishberg, a local neighborhood commissioner on Capitol Hill. A community meeting with police is set for tomorrow.