The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia has completed its investigation into the fatal police shooting of a 44-year-old district resident, identified as D.W. The incident happened on January 13, 2025, when officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to reports of an armed individual. After a comprehensive review, involving various accounts and pieces of evidence, federal prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against the officers involved.
The event began when MPD officers arrived at a building on the 300 block of Florida Avenue, N.E., following a 911 call about a man with a gun. It was reported to the officers that D.W. had fired at a building employee and remained inside the premises. Officers found D.W. near an elevator, where he brandished and then pocketed a handgun before retreating into the elevator. Upon reaching the lobby, an attempt to exit saw D.W. draw his weapon again, leading to a confrontation where police discharged their firearms, resulting in D.W.'s death.
“After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers willfully violated D.W.’s rights,” stated the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office routinely reviews police-involved fatalities to appraise potential violations of federal or district law. This commitment includes probing allegations of excessive force by law enforcement, ensuring all serious civil rights infringement claims are thoroughly and comprehensively investigated. Concurrently, MPD’s Internal Affairs Division also examines all police-involved fatalities within the district.
