Thursday, June 6, 2024

Defendant Charged as an Adult

            WASHINGTON – Zakyh Samuel, 16, of Washington, D.C., was indicted on May 30, 2024, on charges stemming from an August 24, 2023, crime spree throughout the District, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced. 

            Samuel was charged as an adult by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in a 16-count indictment. Samuel was charged with two counts of armed carjacking, five counts of armed robbery, and assault with intent to rob while armed, along with possession of a firearm during each of those crimes of violence.

            Samuel was arraigned on May 31, 2024, before the Honorable Jason Park.

            According to the government’s evidence, on August 24, 2017, Samuel and his accomplices used a stolen burgundy Jeep Grand Cherokee to traverse around the District and prey on members of the community from about 1:30 a.m. to 5:15 a.m., flanking their victims, brandishing firearms, demanding property, and then fleeing, in each offense. DNA testing and surveillance footage later linked Samuel to the spree of offenses.

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. 

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.