Vankese Russell, a 26-year-old resident of the District of Columbia, faces federal firearms charges linked to the "Make D.C. Safe Again" initiative. This initiative, aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in Washington, D.C., was highlighted in an announcement by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., Anthony Spotswood of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith.
Russell is accused in federal court of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. As outlined in court documents, he was arrested by MPD officers on January 28, 2025, in the Chinatown area. The arrest occurred after public marijuana use led to the discovery of an illegal firearm.
MPD officers from the First District Crime Suppression Team were patrolling near 7th and H Streets NW when they detected the smell of burning marijuana. They found Russell smoking at a Metrobus stop. Upon being approached, Russell attempted to dispose of a hand-rolled cigarette. A subsequent search led to the recovery of a loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun from Russell's waistband. Russell, having been convicted of a felony in 2018, was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The ATF Washington Field Office and the Metropolitan Police Department are handling the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kondi Kleinman prosecuting. It is clarified that an indictment is only an allegation, and all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
