Judge Dismisses Carjacker’s Case, Finds Probable Cause for for Co-Defendant  

By Adrianna Bhan [former] - July 26, 2024
Carjacking | Court | Daily Stories | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Herrman dismissed charges against one carjacking defendant, but found probable cause his co-defendant was a perpetrator in a July 25 hearing.

Ayomide Ikujuni, 17, and Robert Thiam, 18, were charged with carjacking for their alleged involvement in an incident that took place on July 22 on the 1300 Block of V Street, NE.

Ikujuni was charged as an adult under Title 16 given the serious nature of the crime. 

According to court documents, the victim had just picked up an order from Subway on V Street when 10-to-15 teenagers swarmed his moped, hit him and pulled him off of the scooter. One of the individuals fled the scene on the vehicle and the victim ran after the group but suffered another beating.

The group then fled in seperate directions and Thiam and Ikujuni were spotted by police near 14th and U Streets, NW.  The victim identified Thiam and Ikujuni as two of the individuals that were present during the assault and robbery. The victim sustained injuries to his face, arms and legs. No other arrests have been made and the vehicle has not been recovered, according to court documents. 

During the hearing the prosecution called a police officer who was present during the defendants’ arrests to testify about his involvement in the investigation.

The witness was presented with video surveillance footage from the intersection of 14th and U Streets, NW and stated there was a large group standing in front of the Subway when the victim walked out of the store and went to his moped he was “pulled off by two” individuals and was “tossed to the ground.” 

Two individuals “took control over” the moped and the victim began running after them when a “mob” began to “stomp on and kick” him, the officer testified. A witness seated across from the Subway called the police. 

The police officer recounted arriving at the scene and seeing the victim “badly assaulted and bleeding from the face.” 

The witness was also presented with his body camera footage that was captured during the incident. 

The witness recounted that he, the victim and a detective were in an unmarked police car to canvass the area for any of the individuals that were involved in the incident. The footage shows the officer speaking with the victim in Spanish and translating for the detectives and victim. 

At one point in the video the victim “excitedly” claimed that he saw some of the individuals walking on the 1900 Block of U Street, NW. The officer testified getting out of the car and approaching a group of four; in the footage he questioned them about where they were going and the individuals replied that they were “just walking.” 

The officer testified that the victim picked out two individuals, who were later identified as Ikujuni and Thiam, as some involved in the incident. 

The victim told the officer and detectives he was “absolutely sure” that Ikujuni and Thiam were involved. 

The witness testified that the victim said he knew it was Ikujuni because of his white shirt and that Ikujuni was the one who “pulled him off of the bike.” According to the officer, the victim told police Thiam was there during the incident and that the victim was “sure” he was one of the individuals who beat the victim.

Rist objected to the officer’s testimony, and stated that the literal translation of what was said by the victim was “[Thiam] was with the group.” The witness confirmed the victim’s statement but stated that the “end result was the same.” 

According to the officer, at the time of the arrest, Ikujuni provided a false name. They were unable to accurately identify him until they located an identification card in his belongings. Thiam maintained his innocence and told the officer that he was not involved in either incident. 

Likewise, Kevin Robertson, Thiam’s defense attorney, also questioned the victim’s identification. According to the officer, the victim stated one of the suspects was a “Black male, smaller in height.” However, Robertson pointed out Thiam was not the shortest individual in the group. 

Rist asked Judge Herrmann not to find probable cause considering that there was “no identification,” of Ikujuni and he was “found three blocks East and at least one block South” of the incident. Rist stated that his client is “only alleged to be a part of the group but did not participate in any assaultive behavior.” 

In his argument against probable cause, Robertson stated that the victim “got it wrong,” and it’s “unfortunate” that he was paying attention to the individuals that were pulling him off the moped and misidentified Thiam. Robertson then reiterated that no one in the group ran when the officer approached despite it being easy to escape.

The prosecution asked Judge Herrman to find probable cause stating that a mob of attacked a random individual and stole his vehicle. The prosecution emphasized how it was the “victim himself who alerted officers,” when he saw someone that he recognized and that they had passed multiple groups of people while canvassing. 

Prosecuting attorneys also emphasized that the video surveillance footage is unclear in determining who is wearing what, and though the majority of the individuals were wearing black there were a few wearing white tank tops and short sleeves. 

Judge Herrman did not find probable cause in Ikujuni’s case, arguing the basis of his identification was his white long sleeve top, but it isn’t seen in the footage. She added that, prior to the show-up procedure, the victim never stated one of the suspects wore a white top. 

However, Judge Herrman found probable cause in Thiam’s case, stating that he may not have been involved in the attack but there is a possibility of him being an aider and abetter. She stated that she doesn’t “know if every single person there” was involved in the attack, but because the surveillance footage shows some people wearing white shirts and Thiam was picked out of the line up. 

Judge Herrmann granted Thiam release, citing his lack of a criminal history, his employment, and educational plans for the fall. 

Thiam is slated to return on Sept. 30.