This past weekend, a series of shootings rattled Petworth. There was a shooting on Marlboro Place causing multiple injuries. A fatal shooting at Georgia and Allison. And a burst of gunfire at 8th and Crittenden (only a bunch of cars were shot up). It provoked a promise from D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier of a devotion of resources, manpower, etc. If you live in Petworth, Lanier asserted you'd see a "saturation" of cops.

Last night, we decided to factcheck Lanier's promise. We saw one cop on Marlboro Place. He sat in his idling cruiser, his laptop set to his AOL account. Georgia and Allison was quiet. At 8th and Crittenden, we saw only an empty cruiser parked up the block. We decided to wait and see if any real cops would ever show up.

We listened to reggae in our Corolla. We ran out of small talk. We swapped college stories. We got excited when a cab pulled up. We watched neighbors parallel park. And we got real bored and real cold. Watch:

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Video by Ted Scheinman

For those of you following the rash of shootings in Petworth this weekend, Police Chief Cathy Lanier left this post on the MPD 4th District message board at 7:59 PM -- less than a half hour after rounds were fired on the 800 block of Crittenden St., NW:

Let me assure everyone that this weekends violence in Petworth will not be tolerated. Since Friday, based on a number of other indicators that led up to this violence, we have redirected a number of citywide resources to attempt to prevent and curb the violence in Petworth. I have citywide vice units, warrant squads, intelligence units, and many more officers teaming up to address this recent spike. We will not stop until the individuals responsible for these senseless acts are brought into custody. In addition to the citywide resources, Commander Brown is ensuring we maintain a saturation of Fourth District patrols in the neighborhood. We will get this under control.

I ask anyone with information on this violence to please contact use on 202-727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (2746).

The reference to "a number of other indicators that led up to this violence" certainly raises some questions about the nature of these incidents. I can say that there has been a visibly increased police presence in Petworth since Friday night, particularly near the crime scenes.

So far, no one from MPD has been able to comment on whether the three shootings we've reported are related, and if so, to what extent.

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According to a message that went out to the MPD-4D listserv this morning from Lt. James Cullen, there was a fatal shooting last night on the 4500 block of Georgia Ave. NW around 9:00 p.m:

On Saturday, Nov. 8th, officers responded to the front of 4506 Georgia Ave., NW, for a shooting victim at about 9:00 pm. A black male subject was found suffering from multiple gunshots. He was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. The 4500 block of Georgia Avenue will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic through some of the morning hours on Sunday so that evidence technicians can finish processing the scene.

Anyone with any information about this case is asked to call 1-888-919-CRIME.

This after two men were found shot on Friday night not too far away, near the corner of Marlboro Pl. and Taylor St., NW. According to the MPD, both of those victims were in local hospitals as of this morning: one in critical condition, and the other stable.

If and when more details about either of these incidents come in, we will keep you updated.