The Alexandria woman shot and killed Oct. 25 while stopped at a traffic light in the city’s Del Ray neighborhood was arrested in 2000 on drug charges and owned a restaurant in the District rumored to be a center of drug activity.
In 2000, Bethlehem “Betty” Ayele was arrested in Maryland with $19,000 and 9 kilograms of cocaine and charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine, according to court records. She was convicted in 2004 and given probation.
Then, in 2004, she testified against six members of the District Gang known as Murder Inc. The gang is believed to be responsible for 31 killings between 1988 and 1999, authorities said.
There are also rumors going around the neighborhood that the Ohio Restaurant, which was owned by Ayele, was a center for drug activity. The restaurant is located at 14th and H street NE in the District.
“We are still trying to determine a motive,” said Alexandria police spokeswoman Amy Bertsch. “The investigation is ongoing.”
An acquaintance of Ayele, who wished to remain anonymous because of fear of retribution from Ayele’s killer, told The Examiner that he was questioned by police about recent drug dealing by Ayele. He said Ayele had been selling drugs to pay for increasing costs at the restaurant.
According to Ayele’s real estate agent Tonya Sable, Ayele recently agreed to sell the restaurant for $800,000. The restaurant was purchased in November 2005 for $350,000, according to reports.
Sable said she heard rumors about drug dealing at the Ohio.
“I never saw anything like that,” she said. “I just can’t see it happening. It would be so public.”
Initial reports indicated that police thought Ayele might have been targeted because of her testimony against the gang. Alexandria police maintain Ayele was likely targeted, but said it was not clear whether she was killed because of her connection to the Murder Inc. case or for something else.
