Recent grad volunteering in DC with Catholic charity shot, killed while walking home from church

Ryan Realbuto, 23, was walking home from church with his friends when a car pulled up to them and one of the occupants demanded money. When none was produced, the suspect opened fire, striking Realbuto.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the incident took place around 10 pm on Thursday January 18 on the 5000 block of South Dakota Avenue Northeast. When police arrived on scene, they discovered Realbuto suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed to his injuries and pronounced dead a short time later.

The suspect has not been apprehended, and the MPD are offering a reward of up to $25,000 for any information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

A GoFundMe has since been set up to help Realbuto's family and at the time of writing, nearly $120,000 USD has been raised.

The organizer of the fundraiser, Ryan's aunt Lynn Fenicchia, explained that he had found himself in DC via the Capuchin Franciscan Volunteer Corps, an organization that "places volunteers in underserved neighborhoods, concentrating on education, social services and health care."

After graduating from St. Bonaventure University in 2023, the Pittsford, NY native moved down to the nation's capital where he lived in a "communal residence" with fellow volunteers. He was assigned to Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School just outside DC, which "helps at-risk students in a work-study program."

"Ryan had a gentle soul and was a kind human being filled with nothing but innocence," his aunt wrote. "Our hearts are completely broken by this devastating loss. All that Ryan was trying to do was help people and his precious life was taken by senseless violence. Ryan was too good and unique a human being to be remembered for the pain left by his absence."