WASHINGTON, D.C. – A 17-year-old male has been apprehended in relation to the armed hijacking of an FBI agent’s vehicle in Washington, D.C., as reported by the Metropolitan Police Department on Tuesday evening.
The teenager, identified as Devonta Lynch from southeast D.C., was taken into custody on Monday for his alleged involvement in the crime that took place on Nov. 29 on 12th Street NE. Lynch is being prosecuted as an adult under Title 16, according to Metro police.
The incident occurred around 3:44 p.m when the FBI agent was exiting his vehicle. Lynch, along with another suspect, reportedly approached the agent and forcefully took the vehicle at gunpoint. The stolen car was discovered approximately 25 minutes later on 15th Street SE.
The FBI Washington Field Office’s Violent Crimes Task Force is cooperating with Metro police in the ongoing investigation. A joint reward of up to $20,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals involved in the crime.
Authorities have encouraged the public to share any valuable information by calling the police at 202-727-9099 or texting the department’s tip line at 50411.
Carjacking incidents have seen a significant increase in D.C. over the past year. According to Metro police’s carjacking crime statistics page, there have been 924 carjackings in 2023, with 77% involving firearms. This is a significant increase from the 429 carjackings reported in the same period in 2022.
Interestingly, a majority of the carjacking arrests within the city involve juveniles, with 15 and 16 being the most common ages of the offenders.