Protest turns violent after body cam of DC police officers fatally shooting Justin Robinson was released

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — A large group of people were marching and protesting Tuesday night in response to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) releasing its officer’s body-worn camera footage Monday which shows the fatal shooting of Justin Robinson.

The protest began in Southeast D.C. It started outside the MPD 7th District Headquarters before moving to the McDonald’s where an officer fatally shot Robinson, 26, in his car earlier this month.

“No justice. No peace,” the protesters could be heard chanting. “I’m asleep. Don’t shoot.”

MPD officers lined the perimeter and closed off a couple of blocks in the area for the protest. An MPD helicopter was also flying overhead monitoring it.

One protester, Shaletta Robertson, told DC News Now that the group is peacefully protesting because they want answers.

“Tonight we’re just protesting for the murder of Justin. We just want justice for him,” she said. “We need answers.”

Robertson said she watched the body-worn camera footage and was “startled.”

“I wasn’t actually ready to see what I seen, but actions need to be taken care of immediately because we don’t want the whole city to wind up in an uproar,” Robertson told DC News Now. “We’re here for peace.”

Later on in the night, protesters began throwing eggs at the McDonald’s drive-thru.

The group then marched back to the 7th District Headquarters. Just after 10 p.m., the protest started to turn violent as people began throwing things at MPD officers who were monitoring the protest.

Officers and dozens of police cruisers were starting to come down towards the protest causing protesters to back up. Protesters began throwing water bottles and other objects at officers standing outside the headquarters.

Police were also situated on the roof of the headquarters and demanded multiple times for protesters to disperse.

By 10:51 p.m., most of the protesters had left.

MPD said officers have arrested three people.

MPD released a statement at around 11 p.m. regarding the protest.

“We will continue to support those who choose to protest peacefully and safely, and we will continue to hold accountable those who commit criminal acts,” the statement said in part. “Out of an abundance of caution, MPD continues to maintain an increased police presence throughout the District.”

The body-worn camera footage was released Monday evening which detailed the moments leading up to, during and instantly after Robinson’s death.

Officers had responded to the McDonald’s on Marion Barry Avenue, SE, shortly after 5 a.m. on Sept. 1 after receiving a call about a car crashing into the building.

There, officers saw that Robinson had a gun and they called for backup. They gave him verbal commands to roll down his car window and drop his gun. That’s when officers shot him multiple times, killing him.

MPD Police Chief, Pamela Smith, said in a news conference that Robinson had grabbed an officer’s gun causing them to open fire on him.

The two MPD officers involved in the shooting have been put on administrative leave, per MPD policy.

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