WASHINGTON — Groups of people destroyed property and burglarized businesses in D.C. Monday night, police say.
The vandalism took place primarily in the City Center and Georgetown areas, but also included one store in the H Street Corridor, one store in Logan Circle and one store north of Columbia Heights. D.C. police said five people were arrested last night and they are continuing to investigate six burglaries and six destruction of property offenses.
Videos shared by WUSA9 viewers showed heavy police presence around a Gucci store in City Center. Photos show what looks like minor damage to the entrance of the store.
Residents who saw everything unfold told WUSA9 the crowd was in response to the release of DC Police body camera footage that shows the fatal police shooting of Justin Robinson. The 26 year-old man was killed on Sept. 1 when police responded to a call of a minor crash with an injury in the drive-thru of a McDonald's in Southeast D.C. People who live near the high end shops that were targeted said they heard Robinson’s name mentioned multiple times during the chaos.
DC Police could not confirm the connection, but said it was a possibility.
Five people are in custody and facing charges, DC Police said.
Residents expressed frustration over the crime, saying it deters them from living and shopping in D.C.
“It’s starting to make me feel like we can’t even come to the city," shopper Henina Bunch said. "A lot of us work hard to be able to come down here and appreciate the amazing things in D.C."
The Prince George’s County Police Department is also investigating four different burglaries that happened overnight. Police are still looking into whether those are related to the incidents in the District.