The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia has concluded its investigation into the shooting of a 29-year-old District resident identified as S.Z. The incident occurred on February 18, 2025, when officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) encountered S.Z., who brandished a knife during a carjacking attempt. According to the announcement, "there is insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)."
The investigation was conducted by both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division. It involved reviewing law enforcement and civilian accounts, security camera footage, Metro Bus footage, body-worn camera footage, physical evidence, recorded radio communications, autopsy results, and MPD reports.
Evidence presented from the incident showed that around 3:30 p.m. on February 18, 2025, S.Z. drove into an MPD cruiser parked at a red light on Georgia Avenue. After exiting his vehicle and brandishing a knife at the officer, the officer fired a shot causing a minor shoulder injury. S.Z. then ran down Georgia Avenue, ignored commands to drop the knife, and charged at a woman in a parked car, attempting to carjack her. The officer shot S.Z., who died at the scene despite life-saving efforts.
Prosecutors ultimately found insufficient evidence to "prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated S.Z.’s rights."
The U.S. Attorney's Office has reiterated its commitment to investigating all police-involved fatalities to determine potential violations of federal civil rights laws or local laws. They affirmed, "The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely." The Internal Affairs Division of MPD also investigates all fatal police-involved instances within the district.