D.C. man indicted on 13 counts in armed carjackings, shooting

An 18-year-old Washington, D.C., man faces a 13-count federal indictment in connection with two alleged armed carjackings and a shooting that occurred last month in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced.

Dequan Simpson, of the District of Columbia, was charged with multiple counts of carjacking, interfering with interstate commerce by robbery under the Hobbs Act, and corresponding counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, according to court documents. Additional charges include assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, and fleeing a law enforcement officer. Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya ordered Simpson held without bond on April 1.

A co-defendant, Jayvaun Brown, 20, also a District resident, was named in three of the counts — interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, and fleeing a law enforcement officer. Brown was scheduled to make his first court appearance April 2.

The indictment stems from a series of incidents beginning March 4, when a pizza delivery driver was allegedly lured to a residence on the unit block of Webster Street NE under the pretext of a routine food order, court documents say. Upon arrival, the driver was robbed, assaulted, held at gunpoint, and carjacked of his 2014 Toyota Corolla.

Two days later, on March 6, a freelance barber was allegedly lured to the same Webster Street residence under the pretext of a haircut request, according to court documents. When the barber arrived, he was robbed and shot multiple times as he attempted to flee. The gunman stole his black 2009 Infiniti G37X. Investigators later recovered seven spent shell casings at the scene.

On March 9, at approximately 10:20 p.m., police spotted the stolen Infiniti, occupied by several people, speeding on Florida Avenue NE. Officers pursued the vehicle, during which an occupant appeared to throw a rifle from the car. Investigators recovered a Hammerli TAC R1 .22 LR caliber rifle near 9th and K Streets NW, according to court documents.

The chase ended at approximately 10:32 p.m. when the Infiniti crashed into a U.S. Park Police cruiser as it traveled southbound on the 11th Street sidewalk and attempted to turn onto M Street NW. Officers apprehended Simpson shortly after the crash and located Brown in a nearby parking garage.