Frederick Etheridge, a 16-year-old from Washington, D.C., faces charges as an adult for his alleged involvement in a series of armed offenses spanning three months. The announcement came from U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Court documents indicate that Etheridge is charged with participating in an armed carjacking in October 2024 and an armed robbery in January 2025. On October 25, 2024, Etheridge and another suspect allegedly approached a victim at gunpoint in a parking lot on Erie Street Southeast. They demanded the victim's phone and car keys, subsequently driving off with the vehicle. The police later located the vehicle using the victim’s Apple Watch.

In a separate incident on January 3, 2025, Etheridge and another suspect reportedly attempted to carjack another victim after brandishing a firearm. Though they failed to steal the vehicle due to not having the keys, they fled with other items belonging to the victim.

On February 19, MPD officers executed a search warrant at Etheridge's residence where he was observed discarding a black rifle out of his window before being arrested. He was presented in court on February 20 and ordered detained pending a preliminary hearing set for February 27.

The investigation is ongoing under the Metropolitan Police Department with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Goldstein prosecuting. Authorities emphasize that these charges are allegations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.