The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) police arrested three adults and a 15-year-old after an anti-police violence demonstration in DC’s Chinatown on Saturday night.
DC protesters took to the streets two consecutive nights starting Friday in response to recent killings of Black civilians involving police officers in the country, including the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in Minnesota on April 11.
Demonstrators clashed with police and vandalized the Christopher Columbus statue and fountain outside DC’s Union Station before they proceeded toward Chinatown, according to police.
“He did what he was trained to do,” reads one of the spray-painted messages on the sides of the fountain. Others read “RIP MPD” and “Justice for Karon,” referring to Karon Hylton-Brown, who died after crashing his electric scooter into a car while he was chased by DC police.
Those arrested have been identified as Steve Chang, 28, of no fixed address; Michael Klaus, 51, of Alexandria, VA; and Adam Cunningham, 25, of Capitol Heights, MD. They were charged with possession of a destructive device and assault on a police officer.
The unnamed teenager who is of Alexandria, VA, is charged with possession of a prohibited weapon due to weapons found in his possession, in addition to the other two charges the three adults are facing.
MPD is currently preparing for protests expected to erupt following a possible Derek Chauvin trial verdict this week. DC may get support from the National Guard.