Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!enterpoop.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.metro From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Man, 19, is 2nd to die in series of SE shootings Date: Tue, 24 Nov 92 14:12:10 EST Message-ID: Lines: 78 \SE B;METROPOLITAN \HD Man, 19, is 2nd to die in series of SE shootings \BY Brian Reilly \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES A 19-year-old man last night became the second person killed in a series of shootings within three blocks of Fletcher-Johnson Elementary School in Southeast since Friday. None of the at least six shootings appears to be linked to the school. Investigators said last night they believe none them are related. Chano Rucker was found unconscious and shot once in the back about 6:40 p.m. yesterday in the rear of Flea Market World at 4801 Benning Road SE, police said. Mr. Rucker, who lived nearby on the 400 block of Burbank Street, was taken to D.C. General Hospital. He was pronounced dead later in the evening. More than 10 shell casings were found in the area, and witnesses said they saw the victim being chased by another man from 46th Street and Benning Road. While police were at the scene, officials said automatic-weapons fire rang out from less than a block away, near F Street. No victims or gunmen were found after police and detectives rushed from one scene to the other at about 7:30 p.m. Less than three hours later, a man driving a brown-and-gold Nissan Maxima station wagon was shot in the back of the head while in a convenience store parking lot two blocks away, on the 5000 block of Benning Road. After he was shot, the 22-year-old man drove the car to an apartment complex about four blocks away on the 5100 block of Fitch Street and had residents call for help. The unidentified man, who was not seriously injured, was taken to D.C. General Hospital. A large hole was blown out of the rear window of the station wagon, and officers said an automatic weapon was used. Police yesterday also arrested two men, one the son of a D.C. police detective, in the Saturday morning death of a 17-year-old less than two blocks from last night's homicide. About 4:40 a.m. Saturday, Dontilus Hardy Saturday, 17, was shot inside a car in the 4600 block of Benning Road SE. Mr. Hardy, of the 4900 block of Call Place SE, died about an hour later at D.C. General. Leo Spriggs III, 22, of the 4400 block of H Street SE, a son of D.C. fugitive Detective Leo F. Spriggs Jr., was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the case. Also charged with murder was Darius Carthel Smith, 23, of the 1100 block of 45th Place SE, officials said. About five hours before the shooting, an unknown gunmen opened fire through a window at the Popeye's at 4525 Benning Road SE, striking three teens, police said. A 13-year-old was shot in the head and seriously injured. The 14-year-old was grazed in the head and shot in the leg and the 16-year-old was shot in the shoulder. All three were treated at D.C. General. Also yesterday, police identified two persons killed in a triple shooting at the intersection of of Bladensburg and Mount Olivet roads NE. Robert A. Datson, 25, of the 1100 block of Penn Street NE and Renee Perkins, 24, of the 5600 block of Eads Street NE were slain when the Cadillac they were in was sprayed with gunfire by two men on foot who fled the scene. A third person was injured. Police would not disclose his name because he is a witness. * Margaret Rankin contributed to this report. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM