Hakeem Jones, 28, faces second-degree murder charges in the death of 25-year-old Jamillah Gales, who was shot twice in the back in a Northwest Washington alleyway. The incident occurred late Tuesday night, and her 2-year-old son was found safe nearby. Jones is held without bond awaiting a court appearance on May 6.
Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to reports of a shooting around 10:52 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of Kenyon Street Northwest. They found Gales unconscious and suffering from gunshot wounds in a rear alley; she was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives issued an Amber Alert for her young son, who was located unharmed in a nearby residence along with Jones and another man, who was cleared of involvement, police said. The witness told investigators that Jones and Gales, who had stayed at the apartment on and off, left to go to the store about an hour earlier, asking him to watch the child. Jones returned alone, claiming Gales had gone to a different store, according to charging documents reviewed by WJLA. Video footage captured the pair entering the alley before Jones took a shooting stance, extending his arms and pointing what appeared to be a firearm with a flashlight attached, court records state via WTOP. He fired twice, striking her in the back. Investigators have not determined a motive. A GoFundMe for Gales describes her as a devoted mother whose family is devastated by the loss.
