Reggie Brown: Three girls aged 12 and 13 charged after beating disabled man, 64, to death on DC street

WASHINGTON, DC: Police reported that two 13-year-old girls and a 12-year-old girl have been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the beating death of a 64-year-old man on Georgia Avenue NW last fall.

One of the 13-year-olds was arrested on Thursday, March 28. The 12-year-old and the other 13-year-old were placed under arrest on Friday, March 29.

Reggie Brown, 64, died following assault

A law enforcement source familiar with the investigation claimed that the youngest girl had been shot and injured in her Peabody Street NW home earlier on Friday, before her arrest, as reported by NBC Washington.

On October 17, 2023, 64-year-old Reggie Brown of Northwest Washington, DC, died following an assault. At approximately 12.55 am, police were called to the 6200 block of Georgia Avenue. 

He was declared dead at the scene with injuries consistent with an assault, according to the police. He was a victim of homicide and died from blunt force trauma, according to an autopsy. Brown was reportedly disabled and had mental health issues.

A "horrific" video, as described by a detective, was shown in court on Friday night and featured three girls kicking and stomping on Brown. As they left, they seemed to be in a festive mood.

Harry Singleton, a detective, testified on Friday that Brown was thrown to the ground by a man wearing a blue coat. Then, as Brown attempted to flee, the man and several girls trailed after him.

Brown and the girls had no connection, according to Singleton.

“My uncle really didn’t deserve this,” a niece of Brown’s said in a statement while speaking with NBC Washington. “He was known in this community for years, so for this to happen where he lived for 64 [years] is insane. They have to be held accountable!”

Following Friday's hearing, the 13-year-old girls were transferred to a secure juvenile facility. On Saturday, March 30, the 12-year-old girl made her court appearance.

13-year-olds were taken into custody and charged

On Thursday, one of the 13-year-olds were taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder. The 12-year-old was shot early on Friday morning, just before 4 am, in her apartment in the 500 block of Peabody Street, roughly half a mile from the location of the fatal beating.

After being struck in the leg, the girl was brought to a hospital with injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening. Second-degree murder charges were subsequently brought against her and the other 13-year-old girl.

While the girl was hit by gunfire early on Friday, it is unclear from the police report whether the gunfire originated outside or inside her apartment. An image captured from the scene shows a first-floor window pane that is broken.

Following a loud bang, two young people leaped out of the broken window and fled down an alley, according to a neighbor who spoke with News 4. Numerous young people were taken into custody by police as they looked into the shooting.

Before dawn, a number of officers were observed searching the ground with flashlights. Information regarding who is thought to have shot the 12-year-old, whether the girls knew Brown, and the specifics of the detectives' case against the girls were not made public right away.

The three girls are from Northwest Washington, DC. Their identities remained a secret. Police are asking anyone with possibly relevant information to get in touch with them. There's a reward pool of up to $25,000.