David Oday Smith, a 39-year-old resident of the District of Columbia, has been indicted on a federal firearms charge. The indictment was unsealed in U.S. District Court as part of the "Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful" initiative.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, along with Anthony Spotswood, Special Agent in Charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Chief Pamela Smith from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Smith faces one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon. According to court documents, on July 14, 2025, officers from MPD's Fourth District Crime Suppression Team were patrolling Georgia Avenue Northwest when they saw Smith hiding behind a bus stop with a black satchel.
As officers approached him, Smith fled and discarded his satchel. A search revealed it contained a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol with one round loaded in the chamber and 14 additional rounds in the magazine.
Smith is barred from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions, including a second-degree murder conviction in Prince George’s County, Maryland in 2009.
This case falls under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative aimed at addressing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws more strictly. It supports President Trump's Executive Order to Make D.C. Safe Again by prioritizing federal firearms violations and seeking tougher penalties for offenders.
The investigation is being conducted by ATF Washington Field Office alongside the Metropolitan Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Liss is handling prosecution.
It should be noted that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.