5 arrested after hundreds of juveniles fight in Navy Yard on Halloween: Curfew issued

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DC Police

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Metropolitan Police Department arrested five teens after hundreds of juveniles gathered and caused "disorderly" chaos in Washington, D.C.'s Navy Yard neighborhood on Halloween night.

The incident led to Mayor Muriel Bowser enacting a juvenile curfew in the city starting Saturday night.

What we know:

According to MPD, officers first noticed groups of juveniles converging around 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in the park area between First Street and New Jersey Avenue SE, near the Navy Yard Metro Station. By 8 p.m., the crowd had grown to several hundred people.

Police said the gathering began peacefully but quickly escalated as fights broke out and groups started disrupting traffic and refusing orders to stay on the sidewalks. Additional MPD officers and partner agencies — including the Metro Transit Police, U.S. Capitol Police, the National Guard and members of a Federal Task Force — responded to help restore order.

Around 11 p.m., officers had reportedly cleared the park and directed many juveniles toward the Metro station. MPD maintained a heavy presence overnight to prevent further disturbances.

An MPD sergeant was knocked to the ground during the response and treated on scene for minor injuries, police said.

In a viral video posted to X, members of the National Guard can be seen dispersing the crowd.

Arrests

MPD confirmed five arrests related to the incident:

• An 18-year-old male from Accokeek, Maryland – Possession of a Prohibited Weapon (Knife)
• A 16-year-old male from Southwest D.C. – Public Consumption of Marijuana
• A 15-year-old male from Southeast D.C. – Affray
• A 14-year-old male from Southeast D.C. – Failure to Obey and Resisting Arrest
• A 14-year-old male from Southwest D.C. – Failure to Obey and Resisting Arrest

Police said additional arrests were made by the Metro Transit Police.

The investigation remains ongoing, and MPD said it will continue to work with regional partners to review body-camera footage and social media videos from the scene.

Youth curfew in DC

On Saturday, Bowser announced she'd signed an emergency order, enacting a curfew for anyone under 18, beginning Saturday night.

The curfew will go into effect at 11 p.m. on Nov. 1, through 6 a.m. the next morning, and will continue nightly until Nov. 5. 

The order also gives Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith the power to identify "high risk" areas in the city, where she can begin the curfew as early as 6 p.m.