Ten teens face charges for a series of carjackings in Washington, D.C., reflecting a notable increase in such crimes, as stated by law enforcement.
According to U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, the teens, charged as adults, are suspected of involvement in two separate carjacking rings in D.C. They’re accused of at least 15 vehicle thefts and reportedly using firearms to intimidate victims.
Graves stated that the charges mark the most significant federal carjacking arrest in D.C. this year.
He said the charges were a “serious response to show people that this is not a game. This is the real world, and there will be real-world consequences.”
The teenagers allegedly had a group chat “discussing some of the carjackings covered by these indictments,” Graves said Monday, adding, “One defendant wrote ‘GTA IRL,’ which we allege means ‘Grand Theft Auto‘ in real life.”
As of this year, officials say carjackings in Washington, D.C., have surged, reaching 932, with 77% involving guns. However, only 167 people have been arrested, and 62% are juveniles.
On Monday, one of the teens was charged with allegedly shooting a ride-share driver several times during a carjacking attempt.
Fortunately, the victim survived the attack.
Some of the teens charged allegedly worked together to target various victims, including a dentist, a mother with kids near a school, and an elderly couple in their driveway, according to officials.
“What we want to say very loudly and very clearly … is it is a really big deal, and it will be prosecuted as such,” Graves said.
