The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has announced the conclusion of its investigation into the fatal shooting of a 44-year-old District resident, referred to as D.W., by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers. The incident occurred on January 13, 2025, when police responded to a call about an armed individual.
In the early hours of that day, officers arrived at a building on Florida Avenue, N.E., responding to a 911 call regarding a man with a gun. An employee informed them that the armed individual, D.W., had already fired a shot and remained inside. As police searched the building, they encountered D.W. near an elevator, brandishing a handgun. D.W. initially retreated into the elevator but re-emerged a few minutes later with the gun in his pocket. When officers attempted to stop him, a struggle ensued, resulting in the officers discharging their weapons and fatally wounding D.W.
Following a comprehensive examination of the incident, including reviews of civilian and law enforcement accounts, security camera footage, body-worn camera footage, and other evidence, federal prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge the officers with violating D.W.'s civil rights.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division jointly conducted this review. The conclusion was that the officers did not willfully violate D.W.'s rights. The office stated: "The U.S. Attorney’s Office reviews all police-involved fatalities to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to conclude that any officers violated either federal criminal civil rights laws or District of Columbia law."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reinforced its commitment to investigating all allegations of excessive force by law enforcement, ensuring thorough exploration of potential civil rights violations. The MPD’s Internal Affairs Division remains responsible for investigating all police-involved fatalities within the District of Columbia.