NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Shooting Victim 1st of 1990 Murder Toll

A shooting victim became the first entry for 1990 in the murder log of America’s capital. Washington homicide detective A. Shepard said that the first murder of 1990, in what has become the nation’s murder capital, was reported less than six hours after the new year began. Shepard said the city’s murder toll reached 438 for 1989, far surpassing the previous year’s toll of 369. Another police official who would not give his name said the final death tally for 1989 could exceed 440. With 438 dead, Washington’s annual homicide rate would be 70.63 per 100,000 population. Most of the victims have been young black males killed in disputes involving drugs. Little information was available on Monday’s murder. Meanwhile, in New York police said that in the hours between midnight and 6 a.m. New Year’s Day, six persons had been killed.