In the early morning hours of March 18, 2023, in Washington, D.C., a report about a suspicious vehicle led Metropolitan Police to the 3400 block of Baker Street NE. Inside the car, they discovered 17-year-old Dalaneo ‘Debo’ Martin, a Black male, asleep in the driver's seat of what they determined was a stolen vehicle. The engine was running. After confirming the car was stolen, the officers called for assistance from the U.S.
Park Police.
For about 40 minutes, officers from both departments strategized on how to approach the situation and remove the sleeping teenager from the car. Body camera footage later revealed officers discussing their plan before making a move. An MPD officer managed to open a rear door of the vehicle, allowing two Park Police officers to enter the back seat in an attempt to apprehend Martin. The sudden entry startled Martin awake. As a struggle ensued, he put the car in drive and accelerated, with one Park Police officer still inside the vehicle and another reportedly being dragged alongside it.
With the car moving and the officer trapped in the backseat, the situation escalated rapidly. The officer inside the vehicle shouted at Martin, 'Stop man, just let me out! Let me out!' followed by a warning, 'Stop! stop or I'll shoot!'. When the car continued to accelerate, the officer fired his service weapon multiple times, striking Martin. The vehicle then veered off the road, crossed a sidewalk, and crashed into a nearby house on 36th Street Northeast. Dalaneo Martin was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later reported that a handgun was recovered from inside the vehicle.
The death of the teenager, who was the father of a seven-month-old son, sparked an outcry from his family and community members, who questioned the tactics used by the police. The U.S. Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the FBI, launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting. After a lengthy review of the evidence, including the body camera footage, federal prosecutors announced in November 2024 that there was insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the U.S. Park Police officer was criminally liable for Martin's death. Consequently, no federal criminal civil rights or District of Columbia charges were filed against the officer involved.
