Ben Schumin (Own work) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The recent shooting of a 24-year-old man at the Anacostia Metro Station by a 16-year-old has prompted further police presence to be ordered by Metro’s General Manager/CEO Paul J. Wiedefeld and Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik
On Feb. 23 the alleged shooter and Andre Brodie, 19, reportedly attempted to rob the victim on a Green Line train, according to authorities. The victim was found conscious and breathing on the Anacostia station platform, and was carried to a hospital then released that evening at 9:28 p.m., according to metro transit police.
With the help of witnesses and surveillance video, police were able to capture Brodie and the teen on the South Capitol Street Bridge as they walked from the station. They are now in custody and charged with assault with intent to kill.
Three metro riders from the Anacostia station responded to the incident differently, but all said they would be careful.
“I’m not afraid of riding the Metro. I believe that things happen….I feel pretty safe,” said Marcus Prince, 15, a student at Friendship Charter School.
“I think it’s the usual, you have to be a little more vigilant,” said Tera, 31, who did not share her last name. “But again, this is my community and this is how I get to work, and I hope I can trust in the system involved to keep me safe.”
David Green, 47, said, “I was shocked by what happened. I feel very nervous about that because now I’m at an age where I see children killing children, I don’t want to be part of a statistic being hurt by accident. It is terrible how things are happening now.”
Green has a non-profit organization called ACTION that stands for Another Change to Involve Our Neighborhood in Ward 8. “I want to keep children off the street, away from gun violence, drug activities; I’m trying to give back because I was one of those children,” he said.
Wiedefeld and Pavlik announced on Feb. 25 in a press release plans to increase patrols onboard buses, trains, and within Metrorail stations. The additional measures will result in sharp increases in the number of officers on patrol at selected times of day and also better utilize officers working in “limited duty” status to provide additional “eyes and ears” at key locations.
The measures take effect immediately.
“Every Metro rider deserves to be able to travel freely without fear, and we will take all appropriate steps to reassure riders and respond to crime trends,” said Chief Pavlik.
The Metropolitan Transit Police (MTPD) can be contacted at 202-962-2121 or text message to 696873 (MyMTPD) to reach a transit police dispatcher.
