The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia has closed the book on the case involving the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old man last October by police officers, citing a lack of sufficient evidence for federal criminal civil rights charges or District law violations, officials announced. The shooting, which occurred in the 2800 block of Naylor Road, S.E., was closely scrutinized, with an exhaustive review encompassing multiple kinds of footage, evidence, and reports, according to details released by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On October 19, 2023, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to a 911 call alleging a man with a gun was seen in S.E. Washington, D.C.; the officers encountered the suspect who then fled initiating a foot chase, during which the suspect turned, firing at police one officer was struck but survived, for their part, officers, including MPD's Dallas Bennett, returned fire, after which the suspect continued to run but eventually fell and died from his injuries at the scene.
The difficult decision not to pursue charges came after a thorough joint investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the MPD Internal Affairs Division, which included analyzing body-worn camera (BWC) footage, crime-camera footage, civilian and law enforcement witness accounts, as well as the autopsy report among other pieces of evidence. "After a careful, thorough, and independent review of the evidence, federal prosecutors have found insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the MPD Officers Bennett and Hasstedt, both involved in the incident, are criminally liable for the death of the decedent," reads the statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The office stressed its dedication to the investigatory process stating it remains vigilant in its commitment to investigate any allegations of excessive force by police officers vowing to dedicate necessary resources to rigorously and entirely probe serious civil rights violations, MPD's Internal Affairs Division likewise carries the responsibility to examine all incidents surrounding police-involved fatalities within the District of Columbia.
