Three Juveniles Charged as Adults with Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery, and Related Charges Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia Dateline: Washington, D.C. Date: 17 May 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

           WASHINGTON – Keiphone Bennett, 17, Kevin Edwards, 16, and Asia Clark, 17, of Washington, D.C., were presented in Superior Court on May 16, 2024, and charged as adults for their participation in a series of armed carjackings and robberies, which took place between April 29 and May 6, 2024, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced.

            According to the government’s evidence, over the course of seven days, Bennett, Edwards, and Clark, together or separately, committed a series of four armed carjackings and robberies in the District of Columbia. The defendants were arrested on May 7, 2024, after police saw a car used in one of the offenses and attempted to stop it. Rather than stop, the defendants attempted to evade police for approximately thirty minutes. Police pursued the car through the District, Virginia, and Maryland, before police ultimately succeeded in stopping it in the area of Chesapeake Street and Overlook Avenue Southeast.

            Bennett, Edwards, and Clark were charged and presented in D.C. Superior Court. Bennett was charged by complaint with four counts of armed carjacking, one count of armed robbery, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.  Edwards was charged by complaint with two counts of armed carjacking, one count of armed robbery, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.  Clark was charged by complaint with one count of armed carjacking, one count of armed robbery, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.  The Court ordered the defendants held without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for June 7, 2024. 

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Cocuzza and John Parron.  

An arrest on a complaint is merely a formally charged allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

Updated May 17, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-438