Carjacking Defendant Claims He Owns The Stolen Scooter

By Madelyn Nall - October 9, 2024
Carjacking | Daily Stories | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe is presiding over a trial in which the defendant claims he’s actually the victim after his scooter was stolen, not the other way around.

Daquan Jackson, 28, is charged with unarmed carjacking for his alleged involvement in an incident on March 3 on the 1000 block of H Street, NE. 

According to court documents, Jackson and another individual were riding scooters, when Jackson allegedly attempted to remove the victim from the scooter. Officers pulled over the suspect “in an attempt to stop what appeared to be an active carjacking.”

During their opening statements on Oct. 8, the prosecution claimed that Jackson assaulted the victim and attempted to steal the victim’s motor scooter at the intersection of 11th and H Street, NE. They argued he was only unsuccessful because unmarked police were close to the incident and responded. 

Jackson’s defense attorney Sara Kopecki countered stating that Jackson had a right to the motor scooter, because the scooter the victim was driving was allegedly Jackson’s scooter. 

Kopecki stated during her opening that Jackson’s bike had been stolen before the incident, and Jackson was trying to get his bike back from the perpetrator. Kopecki stated Jackson acted in good faith and self-defense, and that the prosecution won’t be able to prove during the trial wasn’t right to take the scooter. 

Following opening statements, the prosecution called on the victim who claimed Jackson attempted to take his scooter

The individual testified that he is a DoorDash delivery driver that was working the night of March 3. He said he was waiting at a stop light during a delivery, when a moped with two people on it ran a red light, pulled up next to him, assaulted him, and attempted to take his scooter. He identified the people on the scooter as two black men with hoods over their heads. 

The prosecution prepared to show the victim the camera footage from the night of the incident, but Judge Pipe excused the jury because of time constraints. 

The trial is set to resume on Oct. 9.