Monday, May 23, 2016

Detectives Charge Suspect in District Heights Homicide

Diartianan Rivers

Homicide Unit detectives charged a suspect in Saturday’s fatal shooting in District Heights. The suspect is 27-year-old Diartianan Rivers of the 1400 block of Savannah Street in Southeast Washington. The victim is 52-year-old Thomas Barnes of Rochell Avenue in District Heights.

On May 21st at about 4:30 am, patrol officers were called to the 1900 block of Rochell Avenue for the report of a shooting. The victim was found outside in a parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. He died a short time later at a hospital.

Preliminarily, detectives believe Barnes ran outside of his home after hearing the sound of his SUV being started in the parking lot. Once in the parking lot, he confronted Rivers who was trying to steal the SUV. During that confrontation, Barnes was shot. The suspect then sped away in the SUV. At about 5:40 pm on Saturday, officers with the Metropolitan Police Department spotted the stolen SUV in Southeast DC. The officers pursued the SUV into Prince George’s County where Rivers was arrested after crashing the SUV on Oxon Run Drive.

Rivers is charged with first and second degree murder and related charges. He has admitted his involvement in the fatal shooting and stealing the SUV. He’s in custody of the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status.  


Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), text “PGPD plus your message” to CRIMES (274637) on your cell phone or go to www.pgcrimesolvers.com and submit a tip online.

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