Trinidad Shooting

Federal Investigation Launched in Trinidad Shooting

District of Columbia Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, in the wake of a recent meeting with U.S. Park Police Chief Salvatore Lauro, has announced a federal investigation into the shooting death of 24-year-old Trey Joyner in the Trinidad community. As a result, Park police confirmed that the six officers involved in the shooting will remain on leave while the matter is being investigated.

"The independence of the investigation satisfies our most important goals of learning what occurred and establishing responsibility so that appropriate remedies can be identified," Norton said following the meeting. "Typically, the best investigation of a shooting involving a police officer is done by an agency with the greatest credibility, and the Civil Rights Division (CRD) of the Justice Department fits this need here."

Norton added that she was pleased the CRD had already contacted Lauro, offering an

independent evaluation and that his department had readily agreed, so she did not have to pursue a federal investigation on her own.

According to Lauro, the CRD investigation in no way suggests police believe there had been any wrongdoing. Instead, "We just want to be as transparent as possible," Lauro said. The incident that claimed Joyner’s life occurred on the evening of June 8 in the 1200 block of Holbrook St., NE, near Gallaudet University and involved several Park police who were part of an FBI Safe Streets Taskforce.

It remains unclear why police opened fire, but reports state officers responded to a call in the area around 8 p.m. regarding a male with a gun. The victim was spotted by police and multiple officers reportedly shot and killed him.

Shortly after, an angry crowd of about 200 gathered in protest.

Witnesses said the victim, who was well known in the community, exited a car and his gun dropped out of his waistband. They said he turned his back, at which point, plainclothes police opened fire.

Investigators said they recovered a gun at the scene. Witnesses further stated Joyner

never brandished a gun or threatened any of the officers.

Witnesses also said they heard at least seven gunshots. Joyner's sister Quston Joyner

said he was executed. "It's such a shame it took six officers to bring him down and shoot him while he had his back turned," Quston Joyner said later in a broadcast interview.

Trinidad is among several areas in the District that are targeted for the installation of crime fighting cameras.

Several shootings there last year prompted police to set up checkpoints in which motorists were stopped and asked why they were in the area. However, under threat of a class action law suit, the checkpoints were quickly discontinued before later being re-instituted at various points.

The Partnership for Civil Justice announced that it had filed a FOIA request today seeking answers concerning this shooting.

In a release, the Partnership writes:

“In response to reports that a resident of the District was shot in the back and killed last night in the Trinidad neighborhood by undercover federal law enforcement agents, the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund filed a Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA) today demanding disclosure of the directives and policies authorizing and implementing the program through which the officers were operating.

Few D.C. residents are aware of the existence of this FBI-led undercover law enforcement operation through which plain-clothed Park Police officers opened fire in the midst of a D.C. neighborhood. The fact of this operation, shrouded in darkness, came to light in reports published today that the officers involved in the above-referenced incident were working as part of an MPD and federal “inter-agency task force dubbed Operation Safe Streets, which addresses violence throughout the region and is overseen by the FBI.”

The FOIA request was submitted to the MPD, the Mayor’s Office, the FBI and the National Park Service’s Police.”