The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced the conclusion of its investigation into the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old District resident, identified as S.Z., by officers from the Metropolitan Police Department. The incident occurred on February 18, 2025. The investigation determined that there is not enough evidence to file federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges against the involved officers.
On the day of the incident, S.Z. reportedly crashed his vehicle into a Metropolitan Police Department cruiser that was stationary at a red light on Georgia Avenue. After exiting his vehicle, S.Z. allegedly wielded a knife and threatened an officer who responded by shooting, causing a minor shoulder injury to S.Z. According to the investigation, S.Z. then ran down Georgia Avenue, disregarding police commands to drop his weapon and lie on the ground. S.Z. allegedly approached a parked vehicle, opened the driver's door, and tried to stab a woman inside in an attempt to carjack her. At this point, an officer discharged a firearm, fatally wounding S.Z. Despite immediate medical efforts, S.Z. was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office alongside the Metropolitan Police Department Internal Affairs Division. They analyzed evidence including eyewitness and officer accounts, footage from security cameras and Metro Buses, body-worn camera footage, and other physical evidence. The investigation found that the evidence was insufficient to demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that the officers acted with willful intent to violate S.Z.'s rights.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stated that it routinely reviews all police-involved deaths to assess whether law enforcement officers violated federal civil rights laws or local laws in the District of Columbia. They reaffirmed their commitment to probe allegations of excessive force thoroughly and with the necessary resources, while the Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division handles investigations into police-involved fatalities in the capital.
