A 17-year-old from Southeast D.C. is facing adult criminal charges in connection with a shooting that wounded a man on Galen Street more than a year ago. Metropolitan Police Department officials said Nehemniah Tollar was arrested on October 23 pursuant to a D.C. Superior Court warrant and charged as an adult with assault with a dangerous weapon involving a gun.
Police announced the arrest on November 2, saying it stemmed from a shooting on September 13, 2025, at approximately 9:52 p.m. in the 1600 block of Galen Street SE, according to the Shore News Network. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Department said, “On Friday, October 23, 2026, pursuant to a D.C. Superior Court arrest warrant, 17-year-old Nehemniah Tollar, of Southeast, D.C., was arrested and charged as an adult under Title 16 with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon (Gun).”
What Happened on Galen Street
The shooting unfolded in a residential pocket of Southeast Washington on a Saturday night in September 2025. Seventh District officers responded to reports of gunfire in the area, and according to the original account from WJLA, “officers with the 7th District responded to the area of Galen Street and Green Street, Southeast, around 9:52 p.m.”
When officers arrived, they found an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. The station reported at the time that “they found a man conscious and breathing with a gunshot wound.” D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported him to an area hospital, and the outlet's initial coverage noted that “the victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. There is no word on his condition.”
Injuries Described as Non-Life-Threatening
More than a year later, police have said the victim's injuries were non-life-threatening, and he survived the shooting. The Shore News Network reported those details as part of its coverage of the arrest, though neither the police statement nor the station's report has disclosed how many times the victim was shot or details of his medical treatment. The man's identity was not released in the November 2 announcement.
In the days immediately following the shooting, investigators were still working to identify a suspect. The same WJLA report said authorities were seeking “a Black man wearing a black zip-up hoodie, white shirt, black pants, and white shoes” and asked anyone with information to call MPD at 202-727-9099 or text tips to 50411.
Charged as an Adult Under Title 16
More than a year passed between the shooting and Tollar's arrest, and police have not publicly explained what evidence identified him or whether new information led investigators to the Superior Court warrant that was issued this year. Authorities also have not specified where Tollar was apprehended or whether a firearm was recovered, and investigators have not said what led to the shooting or whether Tollar and the victim knew each other.
Being charged as an adult under Title 16 of the D.C. Code means Tollar's case will proceed under adult prosecution provisions rather than ordinary juvenile delinquency proceedings. Under D.C. Code § 16-2307, transfer for criminal prosecution can apply when a juvenile is accused of an offense that would constitute a violent felony if charged as an adult, combined with three or more prior delinquency adjudications.
Police have not provided Tollar's current detention status, information about legal representation, or details of upcoming court proceedings. The investigation is being tracked under case number 26122117. As with any pending criminal matter, the charge against Tollar remains an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
