WASHINGTON — In a DC courtroom on Tuesday, we got more information on a shooting and police chase that injured an off-duty DC Police officer.
It happened a little over a week ago. Police arrested and charged 21-year-olds Rasheed Thorne and William Walker with the crimes.
Walker appeared for his preliminary hearing in front of Judge Eric Glover in DC Superior Court. His attorney waived Walker’s hearing, but asked the judge to release Walker while he awaits trial. Prosecutors fought that request.
They pointed to evidence police released last week. In the Gerstein affidavit, police allege that Walker drove his blue Honda accord aggressively when he encountered an off-duty DC Police captain in an SUV in Northwest near Missouri Avenue and 3rd Street.
The officer told police he started recording Walker’s erratic driving on his cellphone. But when the Honda Accord stopped near 7th and Oglethorpe streets, Northwest, police said the passenger, Thorne, got out and started shooting at the officer.
Then detectives said Walker drove off.
According to the report, pieces of broken glass from the gunfire hit the officer in the face. He was injured, but not seriously.
That’s when police said Walker led officers on a long chase – a chase that ended when he wrecked his car in Prince George’s County.
Here’s where things are complicated: Prince George’s County authorities hold Thorne and have charged him with firearm offenses. But D.C. prosecutors had Walker extradited back to the District.
Tuesday, prosecutors said while Walker is not the shooter in the case, he led police on a dangerous chase and also faces an assault with a deadly weapon charges.
Judge Glover considered the evidence presented, but he also looked at Walker’s previous criminal history involving two other gun charges. Then he ruled Walker will remain in jail while awaiting trial.
Walker’s next court date June 10 at 9:30 a.m.