Police arrested 18 people for disorderly and unlawful activity in the Navy Yard area the evening of July 4th, 16 of them youth.
During the evening hours of Friday, July 4, First District officers received numerous calls reporting disorderly behavior by groups of youth. Some of those reports included the use of illegal fireworks. Most of the activity was observed around the area of First and M Streets SE. MPD sent additional officers to the area in an effort to dissuade illegal activity.
First District officers made a total of 18 arrests from Friday night through the early morning hours Saturday, including two adults. 15 arrests were for fireworks-related charges. However, a weapon was recovered, and one person was arrested and charged for Carrying a Pistol without a License. Another was arrested for simple assault and one more on charges of public consumption of marijuana.
Two juvenile curfew violators were stopped and later released into the custody of a guardian.
Officer also seized about 200 illegal fireworks. Fireworks that launch and explode are illegal in the District of Columbia.
The intervention comes after spring youth “takeovers” in the Navy Yard, Wharf and U Street neighborhoods after which residents said they felt endangered and intimidated. Additional police were called to dispell large crowds of teenagers that congregated in the areas.
DC Council passed a law pulling the juvenille curfew back to 11 p.m. from midnight and pushing the age covered by the law to 17 from 16 years old. Much like the Drug Zone law, the emergency curfew legislation makes it possible for MPD to declare “curfew zones,” areas where there is a special 8 p.m. curfew for up to a four day period. The law applies to congregations of eight of more youth. That law has to be signed by the mayor to enacted.
Suspect Sought in Southeast Shooting
Police are still looking for a suspect after a July 4th shooting near First and M Street SE. MPD is looking for public assistance.
At approximately 8:19 p.m., on Friday, July 4, 2025, First District officers responded to the report of a shooting in the 1100 block of Half Street SE, north of Nationals Stadium. Police found a 15-year-old juvenile male conscious and breathing but suffering from gunshot wounds.
DC Fire and EMS arrived and transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.
The suspect was captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in the photos above.
Anyone who can identify this suspect or has knowledge of this incident should take no action but call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s text tip line at 50411. MPD currently offers a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a violent crime committed in the District of Columbia.
