Last night, Northeast D.C. saw a robbery, a high-speed chase, gun shots directed at police, an injured cyclist, and a barricade situation, all rolled into one. Police cars, flashing lights and emergency vehicles woke up many residents late last night around a normally quiet stretch of Capitol Hill. NBC 4 notes that investigators have said the incident “started around 9:30 p.m. after three suspects robbed a man at gunpoint at 41st and Benning Road Northeast and then fled in a red Jeep.” DCist commenter Chris posted MPD’s account in the comments section of today’s Morning Roundup:
“At approximately 2120 hours a citizen was robbed at gunpoint in the 6th District and assailants fled in red Jeep – this Jeep was then seen in the 5th District where a pursuit ensued – a bailout occurred at 17th and Md and two apprehensions were made but third assailant jumped into black Tahoe and took off thus Falcoln (helicopter unit), 1d and 5d units pursued this fleeing felon throughout 1d and 5d — this assailant fired rounds at officers when he first crashed into parked car at 6th and F ST NE – an SOD officer returned fire – no rounds took effect and assailant continued to flee North on 6th ST where he struck a bicyclist at 6th and Florida NE — (who has suffered minor injuries) – the pursuit continued until he crashed at 8th and Mass AVE NE and bailed out and fled into the home that you mentioned below (homeowners were able to run out unharmed) — a barricade was announced for he ran into the basement and was surrounded by police – we awaited our SWAT team who apprehended this assailant at 0010 hours without incident!”
The most comprehensive blog report comes from Frozen Tropics, who makes sure to mention that the man whose basement the robber decided to hole up in decided to pull the brave, if somewhat cartoonish move, of hitting the perpetrator on the head with a frying pan.
This morning, the area was chock full ‘o flares, snarled traffic and diverted metrobuses. Frozen Tropics wonders why this isn’t being more heavily reported on by the mainstream local media. Indeed, as it was happening last night, the only station who mentioned it seemed to be WJLA, who was live on the scene. DCist commenter GhettoBurbs goes so far as to state that “Murders, rapes, carjackings, etc only get reported if they’re in 2nd or 3rd districts.” With this rather large situation having taken place in the 6th District, plus another shooting early this morning on H Street NE that killed one man and injured a woman, is that really the case?
