Published January 13, 2015

The Tragic 1969 Shooting on 13th Street in Washington, DC and the Return of Apollo 10

On May 26th, 1969, an argument over a dog ended in tragedy with the fatal shooting of William Fields Jr. in 13th Street NW Washington, DC. On the same day, Apollo 10 returned to Earth after NASA's final test runs for the mission to the moon.

-ad 188-

Here’s a sad story that we dug up in The Washington Post from May 26th, 1969.

An argument over a dog that bit a young boy ended in the fatal shooting of the son of the dog’s owner last night in 13th Street nw.

William Fields Jr., 29, who was visiting his father at 5421 13th st. nw, was shot to death following an argument with Charles Handy, 38, of 5419 13th st., after Handy had returned from a hospital where his seven-year-old son was being treated for a dog bite.

Police said Handy, who was charged with homicide, argued with the younger Fields, after William Fields Sr. had complained that Handy had threatened to shoot the dog. The younger Fields was pronounced dead at the scene.