[PR] D.C. Man Arrested and Charged with Kidnapping a Local Man at Gunpoint

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Suspect Forced Victim to Drive to Multiple ATMs to Withdraw Hundreds of Dollars

            WASHINGTON – Kareem Davis, 19, of Washington, D.C. has been arrested and charged via criminal complaint with kidnapping on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.

            The charges were announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin, Robert E. Bornstein, acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal Division, and Peter Newsham, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            On September 17, 2020, at approximately 12:50 a.m., Davis approached the victim’s vehicle, which was parked in the 3800 block of 9th Street S.E. in Washington, D.C. Davis entered the vehicle, produced a silver handgun and asked the victim for all of his money. After taking the victim’s wallet, which contained over $200, Davis threatened to kill the victim if he could not give over more money.  The victim, fearing for his life, offered to drive Davis to an ATM. Over the next hour, Davis forced the victim to drive to eight different ATMs in Maryland to procure approximately $1500 for him. Davis then demanded to be driven back to 9th Street S.E. As the victim neared the location on 9th Street S.E. where Davis had entered his car, he put the car in to cruise control and jumped out of the driver’s side door, successfully escaping from Davis. Davis was ultimately identified via surveillance video at several ATMs and two dashboard cameras within the victim’s vehicle. Davis was arrested in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday without incident.

            “Violent crimes, particularly those involving the use of firearms, are one of the highest priorities for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sherwin. “Thorough investigation and coordinated work across departments helped make our community safer today with this arrest.”

            "Today’s charges are another example of the collaboration between the FBI, MPD, and our law enforcement partners on the DC Violent Crime Task Force to quickly take violent criminals off the streets of our city,” said Robert E. Bornstein, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office Criminal Division. “The FBI and our task force partners are committed to bringing justice to those who put our communities’ safety in jeopardy by committing serious crimes like car-jacking and armed robbery.”

            A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

            This case was investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crime Task Force, which comprises FBI Agents and Task Force Officers from MPD, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, and the Department of Homeland Security Federal Protective Service.

            In announcing the charges, Acting U.S. Attorney Sherwin, acting Special Agent in Charge Bornstein, and Chief Newsham commended the work of those involved in the case. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who handled the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall of the Federal Major Crimes Section, Paralegal Specialists Rommel Pachoca and Teesha Tobias, Legal Assistant Kate Abrey, and Victim Advocate Yvonne Bryant.