Christopher Forbes, a 30-year-old resident of Suitland, Maryland, has been indicted on federal firearms charges. The indictment arises from the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative, announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Special Agent in Charge Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative focuses on reducing violent crime in the District of Columbia. It aims to address gun violence in the District, prioritize federal firearms violations, enforce tougher penalties for offenders, and seek detention for federal firearms violators.
Forbes faces charges in a federal court indictment, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, and unlawful discharge of a firearm.
Court documents reveal that on April 5, 2025, MPD officers responded to gunfire reports at approximately 5:42 a.m. at the 1800 block of A Street SE. Officers located Forbes nearby on Independence Avenue SE and found a loaded .40 caliber handgun during a protective pat-down. Shell casings at the scene matched the firearm's caliber.
Forbes' criminal history includes a felony robbery conviction in Prince George’s County, Maryland, in 2024, and an active extraditable warrant for failing to appear related to that case. He also has a non-extraditable warrant from Florida related to a prior conviction for public firearm discharge. Federal law prohibits Forbes from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to his past convictions.
The ATF Washington Field Office and the MPD are investigating this case. It is important to note that an indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.