On Wednesday afternoon, just was rush-hour traffic was picking up on Route 1, the 400 block of Patrick Street became a murder scene — cordoned off and closed to traffic through the neighborhood that locals call the “inner city.” The incident marks the third homicide in Alexandria this year.
According to the Alexandria Police Department, the murder victim was David Murphy, brother of Greg Murphy — the man arrested for murdering 8-year-old Kevin Shifflett in 2000. Last week, Greg Murphy was again found incompetent to stand trial.
“Members of the Street Crimes Unit were near the scene when they heard shots fired,” said Capt. John Crawford, police spokesman. “When they arrived, they saw Mr. Murphy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.”
Craig Jackson was in the alley behind the Third Baptist Church at the intersection of Princess Street and Patrick Street when Murphy was shot.
“I was fixing my bicycle when I heard something,” Jackson said. “The police were here right after it happened.”
<b>DAVID CURTIS MURPHY</b>, 37, died at 5:55 p.m. at Inova Alexandria Hospital. As of press time, no suspect had been arrested, and no motive had been established.
“We’re knocking on every door in the block,” said Capt. Crawford. “What we’re doing now is basic police work — trying to find out what happened and who’s responsible.”
Murphy was outside working on his 1989 Ford pickup truck when a man approached and shot him multiple times. The suspect then fled on foot north on Patrick Street.
Police ask anyone with information to call the Criminal Investigations Section at (703) 838-4711.