An armed carjacking and a police chase led to the arrest of four suspects — all under the age of 18 — over the weekend.
The incident happened around 8 p.m. on Sunday. Police say a victim was sitting in his car in a parking garage near the Pentagon City mall when the suspects approached and one drew a gun.
They allegedly ordered the victim out of the car, stole some cash, and then drove off, crashing through a fence in the parking garage. The suspects made it a few blocks away before being spotted by officers on S. Eads Street, according to Arlington County police. A brief chase ensued until the suspects crashed along Army Navy Drive, just west of Pentagon City, and all four were taken into custody.
This was just the latest carjacking in the Pentagon City area, which has seen numerous carjackings and vehicle thefts, as well as some arrests.
More details from an ACPD press release, below.
The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit is announcing the arrest of four juvenile suspects following an armed carjacking. All four juveniles have been arrested and charged with Carjacking, Conspiracy to Commit Robbery and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony. The juvenile who was determined to be the driver of the stolen vehicle faces additional charges of Eluding and Destruction of Property.
At approximately 7:55 p.m. on June 6, police were dispatched to the 1200 block of S. Hayes Street for the report of an armed carjacking that just occurred. Arriving officers were flagged down by witnesses who provided a direction of travel for the vehicle. An officer, with emergency equipment activated, located the vehicle on S. Eads Street and attempted a traffic stop. The driver failed to comply, proceeded through red lights and eluded police. A vehicle pursuit was then initiated. The driver continued to make evasive moves and struck the curb in the 1300 block of Army Navy Drive causing the vehicle to come to a stop. All four suspects were then taken into custody.
The investigation determined that the victim was sitting inside his vehicle in a parking garage in the 1200 block of S. Hayes Street when the four suspects approached. One suspect brandished a firearm and demanded the victim open the door to the vehicle. The suspects then took an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim before fleeing the scene in his vehicle and driving through a fence that was blocking part of the garage.
This remains an active criminal investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit at 703-228-4180 or [email protected]. Information may also be reported anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).