I would NEVER expect a crime like this here!! This is quite a shock to many,I am sure. I frequent this area bi-weekly on average.

I live in Kensington,work in Friendship,and frequent this area bi-weekly on average. I NEVER have a personal safety concern here..this is truely shockng!!

I think everyone will be on edge until the police make arrests.

I work around the corner from lululemon and you would be surprised at the amount of late night gang activity in the area. Mostly low level stuff, vandalism, tagging, etc..., but it wouldn't surprise me if the murders were gang members.

it`s sad i leave behind the shopping center R.I.P it very safe area

Crimes are not just among blacks and black neighborhoods. I think most of you need to see crime as crime, which can happen anywhere at anytime and stop making yourselves and your neighborhoods so exclusive. But this is sad nonetheless and I do pray for the survivor that she also gets the counseling she needs to heal from this personal trauma.

death penalty for these two animals.

I agree with jekka. I hope they fry those bastards. I'll even pull the switch!

jon
that would make you a murderer also ... "do unto others." Maybe you and Jekka could form a vigilante group and go hunt down the animals and just kill them, then authorities could take you to court as well and inject or electrocute you to death

Pease and respect to the survivor and much love to their families

To the "crime happens anywhere" crowd: yes, it does. But it happens far more frequently in certain areas than it does in others. It had been years since Bethesda had seen a homicide, so it's not as if people are wrong to think that this kind of crime doesn't happen in Bethesda. For the most part, it doesn't.

And as to the "gang activity" comment: tagging and vandalism doesn't mean that the individuals doing those things are in gangs. My friends and I used to vandalize properties from time to time when I was a young dumbass, but we were never in a gang--we were just some 13 year old suburban kids with too much time on our hands.

Perhaps the saddest part of this (if this was indeed as random as everyone keeps saying) is that the surviving girl will have an extraordinarily heavy burden on her shoulders knowing that if she would have remembered her belongings, both girls would probably be happy and going about their lives.

I live ... shop ... dine ... enjoy the Cresent Trail ... movies ... I never let my guard down. I have been witness to various crimes over the twenty years ... Bethesda is ideal ... we do have a false sense of being safe ... would a gun make me feel safer ... could I kill someone?

We should not be shocked at all. There is a lot of false sense of security in this Metro area, in this country in general, where we hope and believe that horrific, rage-filled murders like this will not
happen, particularly in nice, upscale, well-lit places like Bethesda Row.

To think that no one on the street or nearby could hear the brutal violence that was taking place in that store just after 10 pm is incredulous. If we're not expecting threats or violence we're not on guard for it.

As a mother, I fear for the life of my daughter in this violent, sexist country of ours. Other countries severely punish thugs for acts of violence like this one, sending the message that it will not be tolerated by peaceful, lawful people.

While I don't know these two heroic young women, I am so saddened for the loss that Jayna's parents are having to absorb and for the other young woman who will be forever altered by this despicable act of terror. We send more money to hostile areas of this globe to protect and keep the peace when we should be pouring money into safer streets no matter what the income strata and electing action oriented politicians who will lead us towards a "more per Union" by writing strong laws with matching punishment for human crimes.

I actually stopped going to Bethesda in the past year, because they seemed to be more interested in giving out parking tickets than anything else. I was sick of paying $30 for getting ticketed for being just a few minutes late.

dear sweet jayna, may you rest in peace. and, may your murderers burn in hell...after they are caught and sentenced to death!!!

So this is what our society has come to??? People killing people for yoga pants?

This is a complete joke... I know it probably wasn't for "yoga pants", but I'm sure you know what I mean. I've lived in DC and the DC area for most of my life, and sadly, this isn't the first time I've seen this crap. Also, this wasn't an individual "nut" who did this. Obviously two idiots conspired and thought it was a good idea to beat up two retail sales workers (one to death--intentionally or not) to gain wealth (however marginal). I can't rule out an assassination, or some kind of foul play, but I'm guessing this was just the act of two jack*#$%#@ trying to make a fast buck...

I'm guessing these people aren't the most sophisticated in the world; however, it seems to be a common theme that people seem to value "things" over just about everything--including human life in this situation.

Drugs could have played a factor; however, I somewhat doubt that as well...especially since drug addicts probably aren't patient enough to do something like this--and it wouldn't even explain the absurdity of this anyway.

Breaking into a yoga pants store and beating a girl to death...jebus...seriously?

I wonder how many developed (or even underdeveloped nations for that matter) have this problem.

Reminds me of the shooting at the Apple store in Clarendon last year...

This is the most haunting crime. Like so many - those who shopped at Lulu and those who didn't - I shudder in disbelief about the attacks and their hideous violence. By inside accounts, this was really vicious and unthinkable in its horror. Sadly - no matter where - this violence is all around us. As I search for 'answers', I am more convinced that these guys had to be on crack or meth. Just sayin' - nobody in their 'right' mind would conceive such a thing - and someone in their 'twisted' straight mind on crack or meth at least begins to explain the madness. I pray for these girls and hope the survivor can heal in time. PS

Aljorie Stallings seems to have a tip on his or her shoulder. I don't really believe that Bethesda residents/patrons walk around oblivious. It is often crowded and murders DON'T commonly happen in Bethesda. None of us saw 911 coming. It's a thing where Americans as a whole go about their daily lives doing whatever, work etc. It's called living. Perhaps we all need to be reminded to be vigilant as much as possible.

Beautifully stated betslick and ultrapop

I bet the police know the killers. They are in a quandary because of jury nullification. The killers are experienced cons and they will lawyer up immediately and mention that they were discriminated against by establishments on Bethesda Row and this effected their actions. Then you'll have a hung jury. They walk free and every criminal and his brother will know that Bethesda Row is a sweet cherry just waiting to be picked. A dilemma, so they do nothing because it is better to let these two go free, than it is to go through a public, loud jury nullification exercise that basically lets every criminal within Metro range know that Bethesda is ripe for the taking.

Sorry Jim Kasten, simply the most ridiculous post this entire page has witnessed. Just ridiculous.