District Man Arraigned on Armed Carjacking Indictment Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia Dateline: Washington, D.C. Date: 3 April 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime Topic:

Defendant Conspired with Unknown Gunman who Pointed a Gun to Victim’s Head and Demanded His Keys

            WASHINGTON – Elijah Montgomery, 19, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned today on an indictment charging him with armed carjacking and other charges arising out of an October 12, 2023 incident near the corner of Galloway Street and Sargent Road NE, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  

            A Superior Court grand jury returned the eight-count indictment charging Montgomery with armed carjacking, armed robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle during a crime of violence, fleeing, destruction of property, and first-degree theft.  The Honorable Judge Di Toro denied the government’s request that Montgomery be held pending trial, and ordered him released to home confinement pending trial. 

            According to court documents, on October 12, 2023, Montgomery was driving a stolen Kia Rio with a punched ignition when he pulled up next to and blocked in the victim, who was seated in the driver’s seat of his parked vehicle. Two passengers exited the Kia Rio, one of whom pointed a handgun at the victim, and demanded the victim’s cell phone and car keys. The unarmed assailant returned to the Kia Rio and the gunman entered the victim’s car, before fleeing together in the same direction. The vehicles were quickly identified 15 minutes later by the MPD’s Violent Crime Robbery Suppression Unit’s police cruisers and overhead helicopter. Montgomery, who was driving the stolen Kia Rio, fled from police, crashing it in the 2500 block of Benning Road NE. He was apprehended after a brief foot chase. The carjacked vehicle was stopped in Maryland shortly thereafter. At the time the vehicle was stopped, it was being operated by a 13-year-old juvenile.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Gimenez.

Updated April 3, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-285