Michael Harrington, a 43-year-old Washington, D.C. resident, was handed down a prison sentence of seven years on June 7, 2024, for a violent incident that took place aboard a metro train last fall. As detailed by the Department of Justice, Harrington pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill in connection with the attack that occurred on September 3, 2023. The case was overseen by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) Chief Michael Anzallo, with Judge Maribeth Raffinan presiding over the sentencing in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
On that evening in September, without provocation, Harrington, inflicted upon the victim multiple stab wounds on a metro train nearing the Navy Yard-Ball Park Station. The victim was found on the train car, left to bleed from a dozen wounds. It is only thanks to the immediate interventions of the police officers, who rushed to the scene to administer life-saving first aid, that she survived. Harrington was arrested later the same evening, having triggered a fire alarm while brandishing a knife stained with what appeared to be dried blood, consistent with that from the metro incident.
In a statement obtained by the U.S. Department of Justice, the assailant had conceded to the probabilities of the government proving his guilt, opting for an Alford plea. As part of the sentence, Judge Raffinan also mandated three years of supervised release and ordered Harrington to contribute $100 to the Superior Court’s Crime Victims Compensation Fund. Harrington, admitted having had a dispute with someone on the Metro, although precise details of the disagreement were not disclosed during the proceedings.
The successful apprehension and prosecution of Harrington were the result of collaborative efforts between the MTPD and the Arlington County Police Department. Those working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Chester, were acknowledged for their dedication by Graves and Anzallo. The complex nature of the case, exacerbated by Harrington's reported drug and mental health issues, underscored the multifaceted challenges law enforcement and the justice system often face.
