Deandre Sibblies

Deandre “Dre” Sibblies was a popular and outspoken 21-year-old man from Washington, D.C., who was remembered by loved ones as a "normal kid" with a bright future. An African-American male, Deandre was the devoted son of Janita Morgan and Lloyd Sibblies. He had graduated from Woodson High School in 2013 and was known for being respectful to his elders and a jokester among his friends. Deandre worked a variety of jobs, including construction, stocking supermarket shelves, and parking cars, and was training to become a cross-country truck driver. He had a passion for football, having played at the local recreation center from the age of six, and later returned to mentor younger children in the sport. Family was central to his life; he was especially close to his sister, Andrea Watkins, and was a wonderful uncle. Tragically, gun violence was not new to his family, as his uncle had been fatally shot over a decade earlier.

The late afternoon of February 22, 2016, turned tragic for Deandre and his family. The day held a painful irony, as it was his sister Andrea's 22nd birthday. His mother, Janita Morgan, had dropped him off at the Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, a familiar and beloved place for him. At approximately 5:38 p.m., in the 4500 block of Quarles Street, NE, a single gunshot rang out. Deandre was struck by a bullet in his back. He was holding his first-ever tax refund check, for $192, when he was shot.

Shortly after dropping him off, Ms. Morgan received a frantic phone call from one of Deandre's friends, screaming that he had been shot. She rushed back to the scene, only to find it cordoned off with crime-scene tape. All that remained of her son's presence was a pile of his clothes on the ground as he was being transported to a local hospital. Despite the efforts of first responders who rendered aid at the scene, Deandre succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The Metropolitan Police Department's Homicide Branch launched an investigation into Deandre's death. Detectives from the Sixth District had initially responded to the call of a man down. The department sought the public's assistance, distributing flyers and asking for any information regarding the fatal shooting. His mother believes a dispute with people he knew may have led to his death, and that jealousy could have been a motive. Despite these beliefs within the community, no arrests have ever been made in the case, and no suspects have been publicly identified.

The loss was a devastating blow to Deandre's family and the wider community. His funeral was held on March 2, 2016, at The House of Praise, where family and friends gathered to mourn the young man whose life was cut short. His former football coach, Alvin "Til" Tillerson, remembered him as a "tough guy" who had trained as a boxer and wouldn't back down from a fight. Another coach lamented, "The Street shorted a life." His death was one of 18 homicides in the District in the first two months of 2016, a year that saw a significant increase in killings compared to the previous year.

Years later, the case of Deandre Sibblies's murder remains unsolved. His family continues to seek justice and answers for the senseless act of violence that took him from them. The Metropolitan Police Department continues to offer a reward of up to $25,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for his death. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Command Information Center at (202) 727-9099 or send an anonymous tip by texting 50411.