DC Police Release Videos From 3 Officer-Involved Deaths

WASHINGTON, DC — The Metropolitan Police Department released body-worn camera footage on YouTube of three officer-involved fatality incidents from 2018. The videos include the deaths of Jeffrey Price, D'Quon Young, and Marqueese Alston.

Last week, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed emergency legislation to expand the the District's body-worn camera law to include the release of information involving officer-involved deaths.

"Importantly, that legislation also ensures the right of families to privacy and allows them to be a part of the release decision process," Bowser said, during a Friday press briefing.

The release of footage from the Price, Young, and Alston cases is the first under Bowser's new legislation. Footage from four other fatalaties was not released at the request of the victims' families.

"The videos themselves are what they are, which is to say they resolve some questions that people may have but they don't resolve others," said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice Kevin Donahue, during the briefing.

In the case involving Young, for example, the video originated from a recreation center building, so there was no accompanying audio. The officer involved was off duty at the time and was not wearing a uniform or body-worn camera.

"He's dressed like anyone else is dressed while having a day off," Donahue said. "So, there's no camera he's wearing and you're not going to hear the dialogue between the two. We know what reports were made in interviews after the fact with the officer involved, but the videos are not going to resolve every question ideally people would like the video to answer. They may never."

In the first case, officers responded around 1:21 p.m., on May 4, 2018, for the report of multiple sounds of gunshots. According to the report, an ATV and motorized dirt bike may have been involved in the incident.

Price was traveling at a high rate of speed going northbound in the southbound lane of Division Avenue, Northeast.

An MPD officer traveling in the 5100 block of Fitch Place, N.E., responded to the call and began searching for the dirt bike. As the officer entered the intersection of Division Avenue, Northeast, Price's motorcycle struck the passenger side of the police vehicle. Price was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. D.C. Fire and EMS transported Price to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

An independent review of the incident was conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia (USAO), which notified MPD on Feb. 21, 2019, that it was declining to criminally prosecute the officer involved in the crash. The Use of Force Review Board found that no vehicular pursuit had taken place and the Crash Review Board found that the crash was preventable.

The officer involved in Price's death was issued a six-day suspension for his role in the crash, according to Bowser. Five of those days were held in abeyance, so he received a one day suspension without pay in the end.

In the second case, an off-duty MPD officer was on his way to a cookout with friends around 6:50 p.m., on May 9, 2018, when he was approached by Young. The officer was not in uniform and he was not wearing a body-worn camera. Young brandished a handgun and there was an exchange of gunfire. MPD officers arrived on the scene and provided first aid. D.C. Fire and EMS took Young to an area hospital where he died.

An investigation determined that a shell casing recovered from the scene had been fired from Young's handgun. Also, DNA found on the handgun matched Young's DNA.

USAO notified MPD on June 26, 2019, that it was declining to criminally prosecute the officer involved in the shooting. The Use of Force Review Board determined that use of force by the officer was justified and within departmental policy.

Based on the interviews after the fact, MPD does not believe the officer involved in the Young shooting identified himself as a police officer, Chief Peter Newsham said, during the briefing.

In the third case, officers from the Seventh District were on patrol on June 12, 2018, around 7:12 p.m.,in the area of the 3700 block of 1st St., S.E., when they noticed Alston walking with the outline of a handgun in his pocket. They attempted to stop him, but he fled down an alley. When Alston produced a handgun, he fired at the officers, and two officers returned fire.

An investigation revealed that four shell casings recovered from the scene had been fired from Alston's handgun and DNA on the handgun and a magazine in his pocket matched Alston's DNA.

USAO notified MPD on Jan. 2, 2019, that it was declining to criminally prosecute the officers involved in the shooting. The Use of Force Review Board determined that use of force by both officers was justified and within departmental policy.

The first video shows raw footage of the the May 4 officer-involved death of Jeffrey Price.

Warning: This video contains graphic content:

The second video shows raw footage of the the May 9 fatal shooting of D'Quan Young in the 2300 block of 15th St., N.E., by an off-duty police officer.

Warning: This video contains graphic content:

The third video shows raw footage of the June 12, 2018 fatal shooting of Marqueese Alston in the 3700 block of 1st St., S.E.

Warning: This video contains graphic content: