Crime: Rash of Pricey Parka Thefts Hits Georgetown; Shootings Kill 3 in D.C. on Single Day
By • February 2, 2023 0 2009
Georgetowners beware: a string of broad daylight and violent thefts of pricey Canada Goose parkas – mostly right off the backs of victims, but also targeting students near campuses as well as indoor coat racks at fitness classes and other crowded spaces – has menaced the Georgetown area as well as the campuses of George Washington University and Howard University.
On Feb. 3, WUSA9 reported that “a string of violent robberies for Canada Goose jackets around D.C. is not over – the most recent taking place Wednesday near George Washington University’s Foggy Bottom campus.” The university “sent an advisory email to warn students of two incidents.” One woman reported she was “approached at about 10:30 a.m. in the 900 block of 24th Street NW,” according to D.C. police.
The suspect reportedly brandished a handgun while demanding the woman’s Canada Goose jacket. After the victim complied (she was not injured bodily), the suspect then “fled northbound on 24th Street in a white Hyundai Elantra bearing Maryland license plates.” Second District police are currently investigating the armed robbery and are asking residents to contact the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with any relevant information.
Prices for Canada Goose jackets can run anywhere from approximately $600 to $2,000, so it’s not surprising that, with their recognizable designer logo on the sleeve of the parka, thieves might be eyeing them.
On Feb. 2, News4’s Jackie Bensen spoke to a victim near Howard University. The anonymous young male said he was “on his way to work riding down New Jersey Ave. NW around 9:00 a.m. in late December on an electric scooter when a man ran up to him as he stopped in traffic.” The suspect “implied he had a gun and demanded his Canada Goose parka.” Whereupon, the victim “said he resisted.” But soon a “motorist scared the guy off.” Unfortunately, however, after the victim turned right onto N Street NW, “the car was waiting for [him] there.”
Then “two guys jumped out of the car and – thankfully I was wearing my jacket and my helmet – and they tried to jostle me and knock me off the scooter. They started punching me and they tried to really assault me and I just started screaming at the top of my lungs. And they ran away,” the victim said.
Just a few days before, Bensen said, a “couple walking with their young children were attacked near First and W Streets NW on December 18, around noontime.” In this case robbers didn’t succeed in pulling the coat off the victim. However, Howard University police made arrests after a student was “punched and robbed of his Canada Goose jacket.” According to court documents, three suspects surrounded the victim and one said “Give me that jacket.”
MPD has urged those wearing Canada Goose jackets to “sew some type of marker inside your jacket so you can identify it if it’s recovered,” Bensen said.
Meanwhile, gun violence continues to plague northwest Washington as well as the rest of the city. On Saturday February 4, three deaths and four injuries were reported in separate shootings in the District. The first, which “police described as domestic in nature,” according to WTOP, took place in the 1100 block of 21st Place in northeast around 5:00 a.m.” Police found a 32-year-old man – identified as Gregory Wilkins of northeast D.C. – dead at the scene and a suspect – Diamond Stevenson, 27, also of northeast D.C. – was arrested and charged with second degree murder while armed.
MPD also responded to a second shooting at around 4:45 p.m. in the 1400 block of Spring Road NW. At the scene, they discovered a “man suffering from gunshot wounds.” Thirty-nine-year-old Aaron Robinson of northwest D.C. was pronounced dead at the scene.
At around 7:20 p.m. in the 3600 block of 22nd Street SE, a third fatal shooting took place. Police said they found in the area a dead man who had been shot – identified as 25-year-old Darnell Peoples, of southeast D.C. – according to WTOP.
Two other non-fatal shootings in southeast D.C. also took place on Saturday. At approximately 10:45 p.m. in the 3800 block of South Capitol Street, three men were injured but all were conscious and breathing, according to WTOP. “Police took a suspect into custody but the person was released after no probable cause was found.”
The second non-fatal shooting took place in the 3300 block of 10th Place “about 15 minutes later,” WTOP reported. MPD is asking anyone with potentially helpful information on these incidents to call (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.
Early this morning a body was discovered in Rock Creek and along Potomac Parkway in D.C. According to WJLA7 News, just before 2:00 a.m., “water rescue crews with DC Fire and EMS assisted the U.S. Park Police (USPP) at Rock Creek Parkway and Massachusetts Ave. NW. [where] crews say they discovered a deceased person in the creek.” According to DC Fire and EMS, “Special Operations personnel in wet suits and life vests used a rope system and stokes basket to remove a deceased individual from the creek.”
According to officials, there appears to have been “some sort of single-car crash or unattended vehicle nearby and the body was found while crews were clearing the scene,” WJLA7 News reported. Road closures in the area lasted until approximately 4:55 a.m. USPP will be turning the death investigation over to MPD.
MPD is also on the lookout for a suspect in a Burglary Two Offense stemming from an incident on the 900 block of F Street NW. On February 6, MPD reported detectives from the Second District are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying and locating a suspect in the case. “The subject was captured by a surveillance camera” and can be seen in this video: https://youtu.be/Gfe3JQWC2wg.
Suspects (and a vehicle) are also sought in an Armed Robbery (Gun) incident in the 1800 block of T Street NW. On February 6, detectives from MPD’s Second District asked for the public’s assistance in locating suspects. “At approximately 1:31 p.m., the suspects approached the victims at the listed location. One of the suspects brandished a handgun and demanded the victim’s property. The victims complied and the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle. Surveillance footage of the suspects and vehicle can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/B0A2bNznY-Y.
Suspects in a “Robbery (Snatch) offense” in the 900 block of U Street NW are also sought by MPD’s Third District detectives, according to a Feb. 4 press release. Surveillance footage of the suspects can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/OUDFhF8hd5A.
MPD Second District detectives also seek the public’s assistance in locating a suspect in reference to a “Robbery (Fear) of an establishment offense” that occurred on Thursday, Feb. 2 in the 1900 block of 18th Street NW. At approximately 1:22 a.m., the “suspect forcibly entered an establishment,” threatened the victim and demanded money. The “suspect then took the cash register and fled the scene.” Surveillance footage of the suspect can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/8JnaSDtHCVk.
In a Feb. 2 press release, MPD also reported that Second District detectives were searching for a suspect and vehicle in an “Armed Robbery (Gun)” offense in the 900 block of 24th Street NW. At approximately 10:26 a.m., the suspect “approached the victim” and “brandished a handgun,” demanding the victim’s property. The victim complied and the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle. Surveillance footage of the suspect and vehicle can be seen here: https://youtu.be/53_G3QvKczM.
Finally, in their most recent “Weekly Firearm Recoveries” report from Jan. 23 – 30, MPD reports taking 51 firearms off the streets.
