Six Maryland teens were indicted today on murder, armed robbery, and other charges stemming from the slaying of Olijawon Griffin at the Woodley Park Metro station in November.
The defendants were all charged as adults. Three other people participated in the incident, but are not named in the indictment, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney ffice.
The six teens are: Chavez Myers, 17, of District Heights; Muquan Cawthorne, 16, of Mount Rainier; Isaiah Gant, 16, of Hyattsville; Gary Maye, 17, of Hyattsville; Deon Jefferson, 17, of Landover; and Immanuel Swann, 17, of Brentwood.
On the night of Nov. 16, the teens planned to rob people of their iPhones and other items of value, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The group took a Metro train from the West Hyattsville, Md. station to the Gallery Place/Chinatown station, then took another train to the Woodley Park Metro station.
Then, the six crossed the Duke Ellington Bridge into Adams Morgan "to find targets," the press release reads. They found Griffin, allegedly attacking him near a gas station in the 1800 block of Adams Mill Road, and first robbed him of his Helly Hansen coat and hat.
The group returned to the Woodley Park Metro station - but Griffin and two companions followed, trying to get the coat and hat back. The groups battled, and one of Griffin's companions was repeatedly punched, kicked and stomped on as he lay on the ground, according to the U.S. attorney. During that attack, Cawthorne stole $150 from the victim's wallet.
While the fight went on, the press release said, Myers - wearing a ski mask and carrying a knife - snuck up on Griffin, who was on the mezzanine level trying to draw the fight away from his injured friend.
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Myers stabbed Griffin in the heart, according to the U.S. attorney. Griffin died a short time later.
Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, and Michael Taborn, Chief of the Metro Transit Police, joined Machen in announcing the charges.
