U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro has announced the indictment of Tommy Whack, a 35-year-old Maryland resident, on charges related to the April 1, 2024 murder of Fasil Teklemariam. The indictment, handed down by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, includes robbery and first-degree murder while armed – felony murder. Whack appeared before Judge Neal Kravitz for arraignment on June 27, 2025.
According to evidence presented by the government, on April 1, 2024, Fasil Teklemariam was at his residence at 1360 Peabody Street NW when Whack allegedly entered both the building and Teklemariam’s apartment with a co-conspirator. The assailants reportedly killed Mr. Teklemariam using glass bottles and a knife before stealing his phone, personal documents, and other possessions from the apartment. His body was discovered four days later by staff members from the apartment management.
The announcement included participation from Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The MPD is conducting an investigation into this case which is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
