The case of an October robbery victim who later passed away has taken a graver turn. The Metropolitan Police Department has confirmed that the death of Bryan Smith, the 39-year-old man assaulted in a late October robbery, has now been officially ruled as a homicide. In light of the new findings reported last Thursday, the two juveniles arrested for the crime could face additional charges. The Northern Virginia Medical Examiner's Office stated the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

Recalling the unfortunate series of events, Smith was found unconscious around 5:00 a.m. on October 27, 2024, in the 500 block of T Street, Northwest, after being robbed. He was originally transported to a hospital in the District for critical injuries. Later, he was transferred to a Virginia hospital where he subsequently died on November 7, 2024. Following the Medical Examiner's recent determination, detectives are now looking to possibly escalate the charges against the suspects, in collaboration with the Attorney General's Office of the District of Columbia.

Initially, on November 14, 2024, a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old, both hailing from Northeast, were arrested. They faced charges for three separate incidents including assault and robbery which occurred in quick succession on the morning of the same day as the attack on Smith. In one situation, documented at around 5:50 a.m. on 14th Street, Northwest, the duo allegedly attempted and failed to rob their targets. Barely five minutes later, they successfully robbed another victim on Vermont Avenue. The final incident, recorded at 7:22 a.m. on Rhode Island Avenue, Northeast, also ended in a successful robbery, as per the police report.