A Morning Gunshot Shatters Any Sense of Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The residents of the Overlook Apartments at Oxon Run woke up Thursday to yet another reminder that their home is no longer a refuge. Around 11:30 a.m., two visitors arguing inside the senior complex escalated to gunfire, leaving one person wounded. The shot did not kill, but it pierced the fragile sense of security many tenants say they had already lost.
Seventy-year-old Bonnie Duffy-Page, still shaken, described her instinctive reaction. “I went in my house, locked my door, and went in my bedroom,” she said. “I was scared out of my wits.” Management alerted residents seven hours later—a delay neighbors say is only the latest example of indifference to their safety.
Years of Warnings, Little Action
Regina Pixley, president of the tenant association, has spent months documenting hazards: broken gates, dark walkways, malfunctioning security cameras, and elevators perpetually out of service. She and fellow residents have called, emailed, and even arranged in-person meetings with management, but meaningful fixes rarely follow.
Their fears are not hypothetical. According to Metropolitan Police Department data, 29 violent crimes have occurred near the property since January. One senior was robbed at the complex entrance when broken lighting and a disabled gate provided easy cover for the assailant. Others rarely leave their apartments after dusk, effectively placing themselves on self-imposed lockdown.
Everyday Life Inside a “Secure” Building
A walk around the grounds reveals an unsettling contradiction: signs proclaiming controlled access next to doors propped permanently open; security cameras that swivel but record nothing; elevators that stall between floors, stranding elderly residents who rely on walkers or wheelchairs. Seventy-nine-year-old Carolyn Hunter has lost all four tires—twice—to late-night thieves.
“I used to enjoy sitting outside,” she said. “Now I check the hallway, then check it again before I even open my door.”
Ownership Links to a Troubled Past
Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit affordable-housing developer, owns both Overlook at Oxon Run and the nearby Mayfair Mansions complex. Last summer the D.C. Attorney General sued Enterprise over Mayfair’s deteriorating conditions, citing mold, leaks, and chronic security lapses. Overlook residents fear they are trapped in a sequel.
When asked about Thursday’s shooting, Enterprise issued a written statement emphasizing that “the safety of residents and their guests [is] paramount” and noting full cooperation with police. Yet residents say that words no longer count; only working locks, functional lights, and responsive management will.
Seniors Demand a Seat at the Table
“For many of us, this is our last stop,” Pixley said. “People in their eighties should not have to sleep with baseball bats next to the bed.” Tenant leaders have called for an emergency meeting with Enterprise next Wednesday and are pressing the city for regular patrols until security systems are repaired.
Their checklist is straightforward:
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Restore and monitor all entry gates.
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Repair every broken security camera and ensure footage is stored.
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Fix elevators immediately or provide reliable alternative access.
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Install brighter exterior lighting and trim overgrown shrubs.
Advocates argue that these upgrades are not luxuries but basic requirements under D.C. housing regulations—especially in a building reserved for seniors.
A Community in Limbo
Until real fixes arrive, residents like Duffy-Page count the hours between dusk and dawn, hoping nothing else goes wrong. Some have family members ready to move them out; others, bound by fixed incomes and limited mobility, have nowhere else to go.
Pixley sees a larger moral question: “Why should our elders spend their final years afraid to collect the mail?”
What Happens Next
The upcoming meeting will test Enterprise’s willingness to invest quickly in repairs and transparency. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police Department continues to investigate Thursday’s shooting, and city regulators are reviewing fresh complaints.
For Overlook’s seniors, time is measured not in days but in incidents avoided. Each quiet night is a small victory—yet one they believe they shouldn’t have to fight for.
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