The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested Wednesday five teenagers over their alleged involvement in a total of 19 crimes, including armed robberies and carjackings that occurred in DC in 11 days.
The suspects are identified as 19-year-old Zharmel Blount, of Southeast; two 16-year-old males — of Northwest and Southeast — a 15-year-old male, of Southeast; and a 13-year-old male, of Southeast.
The crimes, 13 of them armed, were committed between July 3 and July 14 in the city’s first, second, third, fourth, sixth, and seventh districts, according to officials.
On July 3, one of the suspects was seen driving an allegedly stolen vehicle in the 4300 block of Benning Road, Northeast.
On July 5, one suspect allegedly snatched property from victims in the 2400 block of 15th Street, Northwest.
On July 10, a car theft in the 3100 block of 14th Street, Northeast; a robbery in the 1400 block of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest; and another robbery in the 700 block of 7th Street, Southeast, were committed.
On July 11, an armed robbery involving a gun/car theft took place in the 2300 block of 11th Street, Northwest.
On July 12, a suspect committed armed carjacking in the 2300 block of Minnesota Avenue, Southeast, by forcing a victim sitting in their vehicle to hand over their property and vehicle, wielding a handgun. On the same day, one suspect demanded a victim’s property using a firearm in the 1400 block of C Street, Southeast, and multiple suspects demanded a victim’s property, brandishing a gun in the 1300 block of Carolina Avenue, Southeast.
On July 13, the suspects allegedly committed an armed robbery in the 4200 block of 6th Street, Southeast; another armed robbery in the 2500 block of Naylor Road, Southeast; an “assault with intent to rob while armed” in the 5800 block of 14th Street, Northwest; and an armed robbery/kidnapping/assault with a dangerous weapon in the 4200 block of Connecticut Avenue, Northwest.
On July 14, four armed robberies, in the 800 block of Delafield Place, Northeast; in the 5000 block of Sargent Road, Northeast; in the 3600 block of Harewood Road, Northeast; and in the 2500 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, Southeast, were reported. On the same day, there was also an unauthorized use of a vehicle in the 600 block of I Street, Southeast; and an armed robbery/assault with a dangerous weapon in the 800 block of East Capitol Street, Northeast.
The District and DMV area have seen a spike in carjackings in recent months, a large portion of them involving teenagers.
In late June, seven teenagers, aged from 13-16, were arrested and charged in connection with an armed carjacking that ended in Northeast DC.
Two teen girls caused the death of 66-year-old UberEats driver Mohammad Anwar while attempting to carjack his vehicle and leading to a rollover crash in March.