Over Half of Carjacking Cases Heard Since Mid-June Have Defendants Under 21, Data Shows

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None of the carjacking defendants who came through the DC Superior Court from June 16 to Oct. 16 were over 31 years-old. In fact, most of them were more than a decade younger, D.C. Witness data shows.

Twenty-two carjacking defendants appeared in court during this time period. Ten of them were arrested between mid-June and mid-October.

Fifty-two percent of the defendants were under 21 years-old. This includes six who were still teenagers.

Ja’Cori Williams was 16 years-old at the time of his alleged offense. He is being tried as an adult.

D.C. Witness could not find one defendant’s date of birth

Williams, who is now 17, is charged with unarmed carjacking and armed robbery for allegedly stealing a motor vehicle, cell phone, wallet, keys and money from a victim on May 9 on the 4600 block of Livingston Road, SE. He is being held in the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).

52% of carjacking defendants who came through the DC Superior Court from June 16 to Oct. 16 were under 21

According to D.C. Witness

His co-defendant, 20-year-old Keon Smith, is also charged with armed robbery and unarmed carjacking in connection with the incident.

Williams and Smith were two of seven defendants who picked up additional charges in their cases. Others who did so include 19-year-old co-defendants Malik Beverly and Rayrae Stover.

Beverly is charged with robbery, armed robbery and armed carjacking and Stover is charged with unarmed carjacking and robbery for their alleged involvement in incidents on June 22 on the 1700 block of F Street, NE and on June 29 on the 500 block of Oklahoma Avenue, NE.

On July 2, DC Superior Court Judge Juliet McKenna ruled that their cases have enough evidence to go to trial. 

Beverly is being held. Stover is released on his promise to return to court with orders to report to the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA).

Only one of the defendants, 18-year-old Jabari Davis, was charged with armed carjacking. He is accused of stealing a victim’s car during the early morning hours on Aug. 7 on the 1800 block of Newton Street, NE.

Andrea Keckley wrote this article.


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