Maryland father reflects on son's life cut short by stray bullet in DC

WASHINGTON - The father of a young social worker struck and killed by a stray bullet is remembering his son as a bright, shining light.

Roger Marmet says his son, Tom, was working with the homeless and less fortunate - and was looking to do more - when he was killed Wednesday night in Northeast D.C.

Marmet says Tom could have done anything with his life - he could have gone to Wall Street, or worked in business. But after graduating last spring, Tom wanted to work with the less fortunate. Eventually, after earning a higher degree, he had hoped to do more.

But those dreams ended Wednesday night when the 22-year-old was struck by gunfire meant for another person.

After working with the organization, So Others Might Eat, Tom had come up with ideas for doing more, according to his father.

"He chose to help people at a very early age and he had just taken the GRE," Roger said. "He thought he was going to go to graduate school. He started working at [So Others Might Eat] and in the days before his death, he said, 'You know, I think I want to work for another year because I think I can really do something here.'"

Tom Marmet was on a one-year fellowship at So Others Might Eat, and had just left an assignment on Benning Road when he was struck by gunfire.

The 22-year-old victim was driving on 17th Street near Benning Road when someone opened fire from a nearby alley.

"We need the citizens' help on this case," said D.C. Police Capt. Anthony Haythe. "We know that there were some individuals traveling during that period of time that saw something. So if you saw anything, please give us a call to help us out with this case."

Haythe says police have recovered some surveillance footage from the busy intersection, but nothing that has been helpful so far.

"I'm angry, but I also need to spread Tom's message of love and of care," said Roger. "I don't know how to do that, but I know that my mission is to carry on with the practices that a very young kid, who was wiser than his years, has taught to me."

Tom Marmet went to the Maret School in Northwest D.C. and he knew the city well. His father says he wasn't afraid of it.

"He wanted to help the most disadvantaged, the most needy people out there, and while we have suffered a tremendous loss, the world has suffered a tremendous loss because we need more people like that out there," he said.

Roger Marmet says he now feels like he must be an advocate for change, but he is just not sure what that is.