Judge Detains Suspect in Road Rage Incident

By Jeff Levine - January 3, 2025
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

“This is pulling a firearm and pointing it at someone,” said DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno ruling to continue the  detention of a road rage suspect in a Jan. 3 hearing.

Eddy Perez, 21, is charged with threat to kidnap or injure a person, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and fleeing a law enforcement officer in connection with a series of incidents on Dec 16, 2024.

According to a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) report, officers initially stopped a vehicle in which a person described as Perez was driving erratically on the 1300 block of Randolph Street, NW.  They were following up on a report of a gunshot in the area. 

However, police say Perez fled the encounter, ultimately winding up near the intersection of Georgia Avenue, NW and Missouri Avenue, NW.  

Picking up the story from there, prosecutors played a dashcam video from the victim’s car allegedly showing Perez pulling in front of the car, then suddenly making a U-turn and brandishing a firearm outside of the driver’s side window aimed toward the victim. 

“Obviously, that just can’t happen,” said the prosecutor, branding the action as unjustified road rage.  He also noted that Perez had eight prior convictions and that DC Superior Court Judge Robert Hildum had previously found probable cause Perez committed the crime. 

Defense attorney Julie Swaney countered that Perez had no violent criminal history and that his actions were an “aberration.”  Acknowledging that the video was disturbing, Swaney said  Perez could be trusted if released into the community.  Meanwhile, she said a plea offer from the prosecution was on the table, although the terms weren’t revealed. 

Noting the seriousness of the offense, Judge Salerno agreed with the prosecution’s request to keep Perez in custody.

His next hearing is scheduled on Jan. 22.