Three teenagers carrying handguns and ammunition were arrested just before noon Friday inside the Anacostia Metrorail station just minutes after a passenger placed a cell phone call to police, officials said.
A passenger waiting on the platform at the Green Line’s Waterfront-SEU station overheard the three teens, two 16-year-old males and one 15-year-old male, bragging about having guns. Metro Transit Police were able to stop the train carrying the trio, all with District addresses, two stops later at the Anacostia station.
Two of the teens were arrested at the scene while the third suspect fled the station. Metro Transit Police immediately set up a perimeter around the station and the agency’s K-9 team was able to track down the third suspect with a police dog a short time later.
Police, who are not releasing the names of the teens because they are juveniles, would not say why the teenagers may have had guns or if the guns were loaded.
The arrests come after several high-profile robberies involving some teenagers in and around the National Mall in the past few weeks.
“At this time, we do not have any reason to believe that there is any connection, but if so, we will work closely with the other police agencies that are working on the National Mall cases,” said Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein.
The juveniles, who were still being interviewed as of press time Friday, will be charged with carrying a pistol without a license and carrying prohibited ammunition and transferred to the D.C. Juvenile Processing Center.
Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel said the incident is a “perfect example” of why riders need to be alert and ready to contact police.
“If people see or hear something they need to report it,” Taubenkibel said. “The response was immediate and may have prevented other crimes. Riders really are our eyes and ears.”
