DC police identify both people who died in fiery crash after police chase

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — D.C. police identified the second person who died in a crash following a police chase in the beginning of July.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said that 17-year-old Dashawn Harris of Southeast, D.C., and 18-year-old Zagory Leo Hill of District Heights, Md. died at the scene of a fiery crash in the District around 12:35 p.m. on July 2.

MPD said that U.S. Park Police and Anne Arundel County Police were chasing a BMW that was wanted in connection to multiple robberies. The car was driving “at an apparent high rate of speed” in the 4100 block of Southern Ave. when it lost control and veered off the road, mounting the sidewalk.

“The BMW continued south striking a tree with such force, it caused the vehicle to split in half and the front part rotated until stopping against an iron fence,” said MPD in a news release.

19-year-old Demetri Koger was ejected from the car. He tried to escape, but police arrested him. He was charged with fugitive from justice and taken to a hospital for his injuries to be treated.

Responding officers and DC Fire and EMS had to remove Harris and Hill from the car. Both died there.

Police identified Harris on July 3. The D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and MPD investigators did not identify Hill until July 15.

MPD asked anyone with any information to call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.

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