WASHINGTON — The man who reportedly dropped an illegal gun down a storm drain, which later went off and killed a police officer, has been arrested.
Tyrell Lamonte Bailey, 27, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm at 10:29 p.m. Wednesday night in Southeast D.C.
Bailey was spotted by police on Aug. 28. Investigators say he ran away toward I-295 southbound and jumped down from a retaining wall. After that, police claim they saw him drop a gun in a storm drain and get on the back of a motorcycle, which drove away.
When D.C. police investigator Wayne David later tried to retrieve the gun as evidence, it went off and shot him in the head. David was brought to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
"I want to thank the members of the Metropolitan Police Department and express my appreciation for the community for their tips and information that led to identifying and the arrest of this individual," said Chief Pamela A. Smith. "Our focus is on honoring the memory and legacy of Investigator Wayne David and giving him an exceptional send-off during his funeral services next week. Our department continues to heal, and we’ll continue to support the family as they grieve and heal.”
Initially, Bailey was set to be tried in D.C.’s superior court, but today, the judge said Bailey will face three federal charges, and he’ll be tried in District court. His charges include:
- Illegal possession of a firearm
- Possession of a gun without a serial number
- Unlawfully discarding a weapon
This investigation is still ongoing. WUSA9 will continue to update as more information becomes available.