Arrest made in NoLibs shooting

Police have arrested a man for this month’s shooting that left a transsexual woman wounded and her mother dead.

Police arrested Jibrell Hughes Oct. 12 for the incident that took place on the 700 block of N. 3rd Street five days previously.

Hughes, 32, is accused of shooting the 41-year-old woman, whose name PGN is withholding, in the face and shooting and killing her 65-year-old mother, Stephanie Freeman, in the chest. The woman underwent surgery last week and was released this week.

Hughes, who also goes by the last names Lewis and Jones, faces a litany of charges, including murder, criminal attempted murder, aggravated assault, theft, robbery, receiving stolen property and numerous firearms charges.

Hughes, who lives in the 100 block of Linton Avenue in Olney, was arrested five times previously, between 1996-98. Charges include several robbery counts, contempt of court and harassment with a gun.

“Four out of his six arrests are gun-related so he’s a pretty violent guy,” said police spokesperson Lt. Ray Evers.

Evers said police believe this latest incident was robbery-related.

He declined to elaborate on the relationship between the victims and the suspect other than to say they knew each other.

“There was some knowledge between the group,” he said. “They knew each other in some way for a short period of time. This wasn’t a completely random street robbery.”

Deputy Commissioner Stephen Johnson, LGBT liaison, said the victim met Hughes “socially.”

“While in her premises, a confrontation ensued and the assailant shot and wounded the complainant,” he said. “When her mother attempted to intercede, she was also shot by Jibrell and died from her wound.”

Several witnesses were present in the house at the time of the shooting, although Evers said he did not know how they were connected to the victims.

There has not been a history of police calls to the house, Evers said.

The woman was found outside on the street, although Evers said both victims were shot inside the house.

Hughes is being held at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility and is scheduled for a hearing at 9 a.m. Oct. 31 in room 306 of the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert St.

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