14th and Fairmont Street, NW
“Dear PoPville,
I live in Columbia Heights and was on my way to run an errand (Wednesday, 12:15pm), waiting at the 14th and Fairmont (south) bus stop, when a group of armed men in bulletproof vests came running from the direction of the corner gas station firing their weapons towards the group of about 10 people waiting at the bus stop.
I was hit in the hip by a long metal taser. They came back a little while later and identified themselves verbally as US Marshals.
They had to use a device to remove it, it felt barbed when I tried to take it out myself at first. It felt very uncomfortable for them to have to be so physically close to remove after having been shot by them.
A few people waiting with me for the bus took pictures, one called 911. Police and EMT showed up. The Marshals really tried to keep them out of it but I told the police what happened, I think they were going to report it, but there was some tension between them about reporting it. The Marshals repeatedly asked me to follow them to their vehicle and to give them my information, but I refused. They tried to get the police to get my information, but they helped reinforce my refusal.
It was an awful experience. They acted like it was my civic duty because, according to their story, they were in pursuit of a person “with warrants” and they apprehended him. I don’t understand why they were executing a warrant at the gas station. And I don’t understand why they opened fire, even with non-lethal weapons, towards a group of bystanders.
I’m planning on following up with the police and make sure it was recorded. Coincidentally, the errand I was on my way to, was to pick up my U-Haul. I’m moving out of DC, in part because the increased militarization of the city is so unsettling and really increases the risk of exactly what happened to me.
I think people should know how brazen it’s gotten.
They were so outta line. There’s definitely tension between the marshals and police for power, and its really concerning what Marshals consider within their jurisdiction and reasonable force. They should not be pursuing petty theft or whatever set them off in a corner gas station at lunch time.”