A couple living nearby heard Margery Magill's cries for help, ran outside and immediately found the dog sitting and howling and Magill's bloodied body nearby, the Washington Post reported.
They administered life-saving techniques while emergency responders arrived. Magill, 27, was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead.
Eliyas Aregahegne, 24, was arrested and charged Wednesday with first-degree murder while armed, according to police.
MPD would like to announce an arrest has been made in reference to a Homicide offense that occurred on 8/27/19 in the 400 block of Irving Street, Northwest.
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) August 28, 2019
Thank you to all who assisted in making DC safer with this arrest!#DCPolice #HereToHelp pic.twitter.com/uCGU1lcl1P
Investigators said the two were apparently strangers. Aregahegne's motive is unclear, and investigators are trying to determine if he has mental health issues, NBC News reported.
8.28.19 Chief Newsham provides updates regarding homicide that occurred in the 400 blk of Irving Street, NW on 8/27/19 https://t.co/Rmo7bGjh5O
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) August 28, 2019
"(She was) minding her own business, and somebody just decided to attack her," her father, Jeffrey Magill, told the Post. "I don't know how you get a handle on somebody doing something like that."
Magill was an avid traveler and had recently completed a master’s degree in international relations.
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