Cyclist shot on the Met Branch Trail during PM rush hour robbery

[DaveK]

This is all coming from the Met Branch listserv but I feel it’s important to get the information out to those who don’t subscribe…

About 6:15pm Wednesday night a cyclist was robbed on the Met Branch between NY Ave and RI Ave. To quote MPD –

“It appears to be a robbery involving three suspects. A shot was fired at the victim, and he was grazed but thankfully not seriously injured. It happened at 3rd and T Sts. about 6:15.

We have not made any arrests.”

Topic

[DaveK]

Correction – it was a pedestrian and not a cyclist.

Quote:

On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at approximately 6:15 pm, an area resident was walking on the Metropolitan Branch Bike Trail in the area of 3rd & R Street, Northeast, when he was accosted by three individuals. One subject produced a weapon and demanded the victim’s possessions. After complying and without provocation, the victim was punched in the face. The victim then attempted to flee from the scene and sustained a graze gunshot wound to the hip area after the suspect fired his weapon.

All three suspects then fled on foot. The victim received treatment for his injuries and an area hospital. The Metropolitan Police Department continues its investigation into the identity of these three individuals.

To ensure this area remains safe for all, the bike trail will be monitored and patrolled by officers on a regular basis.

Capt. Jeff Brown

[PotomacCyclist]

Not good.

Although I never ride over there, I don’t like reading about all of these crime reports on that trail. Have they considered installing some surveillance cameras, including extra dummy cameras, along that part of the trail?

[Greenbelt]

I rode past this last night, but didn’t know what happened at the time. I didn’t see any bikes. They had three MPD cars there almost immediately. Actually they do have cameras in that area, and from where I saw the cops were talking with the victim (maybe it was a witness — I don’t know) last night, I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s on tape. It was in a heavily traveled area about midway between the NY Ave underpass and the big Z turn at R street. And there were lots of folks out on the trail, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the police get a lot of leads.

[Tim Kelley]

Apparently cyclists in Pennsylvania shoot back–Yikes!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46143485/#.TyISZUEgcUU

[CCrew]

@Tim Kelley 13704 wrote:

Apparently cyclists in Pennsylvania shoot back–Yikes!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46143485/#.TyISZUEgcUU

I saw that before you posted. Doesn’t sound like his mom was surprised, her only request was that they delay releasing the victims name until she could tell the rest of the family. I’m not a big proponent of guns and/or concealed carry, but sounds like it wasn’t a bad idea in this case. We’ve ridden in Reading, it’s pretty sketchy.

[PotomacCyclist]

I didn’t know this before, but Reading is the poorest city in the U.S.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/education/july-dec11/amerigrad_11-21.html

I thought it would have been Camden, Newark, Detroit or New Orleans. I never knew Reading was that bad off.

[jabberwocky]

@Tim Kelley 13704 wrote:

Apparently cyclists in Pennsylvania shoot back–Yikes!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46143485/#.TyISZUEgcUU

As a friend on another forum said, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes”.

[Author]

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