A Washington, D.C., police sergeant was charged with second-degree murder for the shooting death of a Black man who fell asleep in his car.
The Metropolitan Police Department sergeant, 41-year-old Enis Jevric, was indicted on March 7 by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, according to the Department of Justice. Jevric is also being charged with a federal civil rights violation.
Twenty-seven-year-old An’Twan Gilmore was shot and killed on August 25, 2021, after falling asleep at the wheel of his BMW at a traffic light near Florida Avenue and New York Avenue. MPD officers approached Gilmore as he slept behind the wheel after receiving a call about an “unconscious” man in a vehicle.
Body camera footage showed several MPD officers approaching Gilmore with their guns drawn and making note of the fact that he was asleep. Jevric is heard saying, “Oh, he’s waking up, he’s waking up. Watch the hands! Where’s the gun at? Should we knock?”
One of the officers startled Gilmore awake by knocking on his window as multiple officers yelled, “Don’t move,” prompting him to start his car and attempt to drive off. His car is immediately met with gunfire, and the vehicle pulled to a stop shortly after hitting a tree. At least 10 shots are heard being fired on the video. Officers allegedly witnessed a handgun in Gilmore’s waistband.
The federal indictment stated that Jevric willfully deprived Gilmore of his right to be free from the use of excessive force while acting under the color of law. The former MPD sergeant is facing life in prison if he is convicted.
“Specifically, the defendant used his MPD-issued firearm to shoot and kill Gilmore,” read the indictment. “Count two charges Gilmore with violating federal law by using a firearm to commit second-degree murder. Finally, count three charges the defendant with murder in the second-degree, in violation of D.C. Code. The alleged offenses carry a statutory…
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