The fatal shooting of a 3-year-old girl in Southeast has prompted a significant increase in the reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Law enforcement officials are urgently seeking tips from the public in a concerted effort to bring the perpetrator to justice.

According to a press release by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the tragic incident occurred on the evening of May 3. Officers arrived at the 2300 block of Hartford Street around 9:10 p.m. following reports of gunfire. Shortly thereafter, 3-year-old Ty’ah Settles was discovered at a fire station on Irving Street with a critical gunshot wound. Despite swift medical attention and being airlifted to the hospital by the United States Park Police, the young girl was pronounced dead.

The current investigation, led by the MPD's Homicide Branch Major Case Squad, indicates Ty’ah was inside a vehicle when she was struck by the bullet. The MPD and other federal law enforcement agencies are pooling their resources to offer a collective reward of up to $50,000 — an increase previously reported by the department. This sum is composed of the MPD's standard reward of up to $25,000 and additional contributions of $10,000 and $15,000 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives respectively.

This spike in the bounty signifies the gravity of the crime and the authorities' resolve to apprehend those responsible. The MPD has gone on record, stipulating that they will give up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.