Melissa Wallace-Pulliam, 44, was shot and killed on the morning of June 16, 2026, on a sidewalk in the 3500 block of Wisconsin Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. She had recently moved into a new apartment, started a new job, and was trying to distance herself from a volatile, abusive relationship. Emergency responders arrived about 7:11 a.m., but she was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.

Police identified her 44-year-old boyfriend, Shawn Dewayne Williams, as the person who shot her. After the killing he fled and boarded a WMATA Metrobus; witnesses gave a description of him and the bus, allowing officers to intercept the vehicle near Wisconsin Avenue and Upton Street NW. When officers confronted Williams on the bus he brandished a handgun and officers fired their service weapons, fatally wounding him. His firearm was recovered and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Family members said Melissa had endured years of abuse, including fractured ribs and chipped teeth, and celebrated the recent steps she was taking to rebuild her life. D.C. Police confirmed prior domestic violence calls involving the couple; the officers who shot Williams were placed on administrative leave while Internal Affairs and the U.S. Attorney’s Office review the incident.

If anyone knew Melissa, her routines, or the couple’s history, please share what you can with investigators.