WASHINGTON — D.C. Police say a peaceful protest turned violent Tuesday night when people began throwing bottles and rocks at officers.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), seven people have been arrested in connection to the protest Tuesday night at the Seventh District Police Station. MPD says the protest didn't turn violent until shortly after 10 p.m. Officers claim people began throwing bottles, rocks and other objects at officers. All three people were arrested within 30 minutes.
The protest was in regards to the death of Justin Robinson, who was shot and killed by D.C. Police officers on Sept. 1.
Body-worn camera footage of Robinson's death was released by MPD Monday evening. That night, people living near City Center watched as they say a crowd gathered in response to the footage showing officers shoot Robinson. D.C. Police could not confirm the connection, but said it was a possibility.
Around 8:30 Tuesday night, a group began to gather outside of the MPD's 7th District station house in Southeast D.C.
They marched from the police station to the McDonald's parking lot where Robinson was killed.
Many of them held signs chanted 'Justice for Justin' and 'I'm sleep, Don't shoot' as they marched.
A few members of the crowd threw eggs and bottles at the officers, but then continued out of the parking lot and back towards the 7th District.
The group arrived back to MPD's 7th District around 9:30 p.m., and for about 30 minutes they stood together and held up their signs.
But things took a turn at 10 p.m. when some people began climbing over the fencing that had been set up around the police station's entrance. Officers were seen in the windows and the entrance watching as the crowd started throwing eggs and bottles at the front of the building.
About 10 minutes after things began to escalate, officers came out of the police station to confront the group.
WUSA9 also saw more police cars full of officers pulling up to the front of the 7th District, but the crowd quickly blocked their path.
Some of the crowd started throwing items at the cruisers, and the officers inside back up. Eventually, officers in riot gear began coming out of the police station. They started to back the crowd up and eventually created a line around the station house.
"We will continue to support those who choose to protest peacefully and safely, and we will continue to hold accountable those who commit criminal acts," a spokesperson for MPD shared in a statement.
They said that officers would remain on scene at the Seventh District and that out of an abundance of caution, MPD would continue to maintain an increased police presence throughout the District.