AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today November 11, 2026
Remembering Julian Bailey
Julian Marquette Bailey was remembered by family and friends in March, with touching videos displayed at his funeral at Temple of Praise church in Southeast Washington, D.C. The videos, including one from a December 2025 cheerleading competition, depicted Bailey, a 43-year-old father of five, joyfully performing the Soulja Boy dance in front of his three young daughters, twins Chloe and Journey, both 10, and 6-year-old Juliana. It was a glimpse of the man his loved ones cherish, now echoed by their quest for answers about his death.
The Fatal Shooting: What Happened?
On February 11, 2026, Bailey was shot and killed by U.S. Marshals in the 3700 block of Hayes Street NE, not far from Cesar Chavez Public Charter School. According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Bailey was shot nine times, at least six of those bullets entering his body from the rear. Life-saving measures were attempted at the scene, but Bailey succumbed to his injuries later that day.
Bailey had been on his way to collect his family from work and school. The U.S. Marshals, MPD, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. have declined to share further details, pointing to ongoing investigations. To date, Bailey’s family has not been provided body camera footage or a complete account of the incident.
The Hours Leading Up to the Shooting
Reports from MPD describe Bailey stopping at the Circle 7 convenience store on Kenilworth Avenue NE that afternoon, where a verbal altercation with a woman identified as Dianca Bishop led her to call 911. The report states that Bailey allegedly brandished a gun before leaving the scene. U.S. Marshals reportedly located Bailey nearby in his vehicle and engaged in the fatal encounter shortly afterward.
Trenise Wells-Bailey, Bailey’s widow, claims that Marshals rammed his car before the shooting and that an unknown woman was present with Bailey. Her attorney, Andrew Clarke, stated he was not authorized to release the woman’s information. The official MPD police report does not mention a gun, though NBC4 reported that a firearm and related items were collected from the scene. An autopsy revealed that Bailey had phencyclidine (PCP) and alcohol in his system, but an external forensic technician clarified that the substances’ presence does not alone determine their relevance to his death.
Disputed Procedures and Unanswered Questions
Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll testified at a D.C. Council Performance Oversight Hearing that the initial 911 call was not assigned to the U.S. Marshals Service, but Marshals and U.S. Park Police arrived at the scene after hearing about the incident on MPD radio traffic. Carroll noted, however, that the Marshals do not typically respond to 911 calls in this manner and generally require MPD presence for such actions. The circumstances leading to Bailey’s shooting and the use of lethal force have not been detailed publicly. Both the MPD and Marshals denied Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for body camera and surveillance footage, citing an ongoing administrative investigation.
Family and Community Seek Justice
Bailey’s widow, Trenise Wells-Bailey, continues to seek closure. Speaking at a D.C. Council Oversight Hearing and an August rally held in his honor, she demanded transparency about why U.S. Marshals were involved and called on city officials to provide justice for her husband and their children. Activist groups such as Free DC, Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, and Black Lives Matter DC joined calls for answers, highlighting broader concerns over multi-agency law enforcement initiatives in D.C.
Months after the shooting, key questions remain: Why did U.S. Marshals respond to a local 911 call? What prompted their actions during the encounter with Bailey? Was Bailey armed, and what happened in the critical moments before he was shot? As investigations continue with little public disclosure, Bailey’s family, including his three young daughters and two older sons, are left searching for justice and a complete account of their loved one’s final moments.
Source: washingtoncitypaper.com.
