Two juveniles arrested and firearms recovered after night of robberies and gunfire in Navy Yard

MPD arrested two teens and recovered two guns after a group of 200 juveniles engaged in robberies and gunfire in DC's Navy Yard neighborhood on Saturday night.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 16, 2026, 5:17 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)

Large Group of Juveniles Overwhelms Navy Yard Park Area

What began as a small gathering on Saturday evening quickly escalated into a significant public safety incident in the Navy Yard district. Starting at approximately 6:30 p.m., First District officers noted a group of juveniles congregating near the Navy Yard Metro Station entrance between First Street and New Jersey Avenue SE. By 8:30 p.m., the crowd had swelled to an estimated 200 individuals, prompting a multi-agency response to monitor the increasingly disorderly behavior.

Violent Robberies and Firearm Discharge Reported

The situation turned violent at 9:12 p.m. when multiple suspects assaulted a juvenile victim in the 1200 block of First Street SE, forcibly stealing the victim's jacket and shoes. Shortly after, at 9:47 p.m., panic ensued as a suspect discharged a firearm into the air inside the park. National Guard members stationed nearby observed the shooting and successfully apprehended a 15-year-old male from Southwest DC. Officers recovered the pistol, and the teen now faces charges of Unlawful Discharge and Carrying a Pistol without a License.

Secret Service Intervention and Second Arrest

The criminal activity continued as a second group of suspects assaulted two more juvenile victims near New Jersey Avenue and M Street SE at 10:00 p.m., stealing personal belongings and sending the victims to the hospital with minor injuries. At 10:34 p.m., members of the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) intercepted a 16-year-old male from Southeast DC during a traffic stop on a rideshare vehicle. The teen attempted to discard a firearm during the stop, leading to his arrest for Carrying a Pistol without a License.