No charges for 2 police officers who shot, killed DC violence interrupter
WASHINGTON - No charges will be filed against two D.C. police officers who shot and killed a man in Southeast D.C., the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. says.
The USAO said there was insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights or charges in D.C. against the officers who fatally shot 25-year-old Justin Robinson on Sept. 1, 2024.
USAO says their office, along with D.C. Police’s Internal Affairs Division, conducted a comprehensive review of physical evidence, surveillance video footage, body-worn camera footage, audio and visual recordings from nearby video cameras, witness accounts, autopsy records and MPD reports.
The backstory:
The deadly incident began when police responded to a call about a car crash at the McDonald’s on Marion Barry Avenue around 5:20 a.m. on Sept. 1.
D.C. police received a report about a car that had crashed into the side of the McDonald’s in the 2500 block of Marion Barry Avenue in Southeast D.C.
Officers and D.C. Fire and EMS responded to the scene where they found Robinson, apparently unresponsive sitting in the driver’s seat of the vehicle.
PREVIOUS STORY: DC police release bodycam video of deadly shooting involving Violence Interrupter Justin Robinson
Police say Robinson had been sitting unconscious inside his car in the drive-thru of the McDonald’s for around an hour before it moved forward and crashed into the building. Police say as officers were investigating, they saw a gun in plain view in Robinson’s lap.
Backup was called, and officers say that as Robinson started to wake up, they repeatedly asked him to put down the weapon down and put his hands up.
According to police, as an MPD officer reached into the car, trying to get the gun away from Robinson, a struggle ensued as Robinson refused to let go of his own gun and grabbed the officer’s gun.
Police say they warned Robinson to take his hand off the gun but that he continued to struggle. That’s when the two officers fired off a total of 11 rounds from their service pistols, striking him.
After Robinson was shot, the officers took the gun Robinson had and removed him from the car. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
What they're saying:
USAO says "after a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the MPD Officers were criminally liable for Mr. Robinson’s death." Both officers are back to full duty.
PREVIOUS STORY: Family of violence interrupter killed by DC police calls for DOJ investigation
Robinson’s family spoke with FOX 5 after the deadly shooting. They say he was a violence interrupter for the ‘Cure the Streets’ program, which aimed to reduce gun violence.
"This has been Justin’s dream to be involved in non-profits and to help the community since he’s been small," Robinson’s sister Tralicia said. "When Justin’s life was taken away, so many opportunities were taken away. So many hearts are broken. Our stomachs are turning. I have to console his twin brother and the call that his twin brother made me is stuck in my head, of him saying ‘They killed Justin’."
The community rallied around the Robinson family following the shooting, with nearly 1,000 people signing a Change.org petition calling for "Justice for Justin."
Nee Nee Tay with the organization Harriet’s Wildest Dreams also spoke with FOX 5 back in September.
"If one of my community members were to empty ten bullets into another person in one of my community member’s backs, front. They would be in the cage," she said. "They would be guilty until proven innocent. So, it’s past time for them to stop giving policemen vacation time."
Robinson’s family repeatedly called for the release of the full body camera footage, and said they wanted the Department of Justice to get involved.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says it remains committed to investigating allegations of excessive force by law enforcement officers and will continue to devote the resources necessary to ensure that all allegations of serious civil rights violations are investigated fully and completely.
*WARNING: Some viewers may find the following video disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised*
The Source: The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, FOX 5 DC reporting