Listen 2 min
Share
Add to your saved stories
Save
D.C. police have arrested a 12-year-old boy who they say was involved in an attempted carjacking Saturday in which the alleged victim, an off-duty federal security officer, fatally shot a 13-year-old suspect.
Fast, informative and written just for locals. Get The 7 DMV newsletter in your inbox every weekday morning. ArrowRight
Police said the 12-year-old was charged as a juvenile with armed carjacking. Because of his age, his name was not released. The youth’s alleged accomplice, identified by authorities as Vernard Toney Jr. of Southeast Washington, was fatally shot in the incident, after which the 12-year-old ran away, police said.
Authorities said the attempted carjacking occurred shortly after 10 p.m. in the 600 block of D Street NW, near the D.C. Superior Court and other judicial and public-safety buildings, in the District’s Penn Quarter neighborhood.
Police said the youths approached the off-duty officer, who was sitting in his personal vehicle waiting for his shift to start. Police said that the youths demanded his vehicle and that he got out.
Alleged teen carjacker fatally shot as D.C. grapples with youth crime
A police report says the security officer told detectives that one of the youths “had his hand in his front waistband pocket as if he had a handgun.” The security officer told police he shot one of the youths, according to a report. Police said Vernard Toney was struck in the chest and died at a hospital. Police said they have not recovered a weapon other than the one the security officer used.
Advertisement
It was not immediately clear whether the youth who was shot was the same youth who allegedly had his hand in his pocket. Police said the youth who was not shot was arrested Tuesday.
Two police officials familiar with Vernard Toney’s criminal history said Monday that the youth had been arrested in May on nine prior carjacking and robbery charges.
Share this article Share
The D.C. attorney general’s office, which prosecutes juvenile crime in the District, later dismissed some of the charges against Vernard Toney, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post, but he was still awaiting prosecution for others.
Authorities have not identified the security officer or where he works. Police said he legally owned his firearm and is cooperating with the investigation. No charges have been filed against him.
Share
Loading...