“Enough is enough,” Contee said. “We must keep guns out of the hands of the youth in our city.”
Contee has credited public tips with helping investigators identify the person arrested, who was 16 when the shooting took place. He said police are still looking for two other suspects and investigators were trying to determine who fired the shots.
Two people, including the 17-year-old arrested, were said to have had the gun in their hands at one point, and another drove a vehicle to get away, Contee said. Police have not identified the 17-year-old, who is being charged as a minor.
“It was because the community called and texted our tip line that we could make this arrest,” Contee said. The police had previously published photos captured by a nearby security camera from two people they described as suspects in the case.
Police had previously said two people approached Robinson after he left a shop in the 1000 block of H Street NE shortly before 6pm on August 28. Police said the player was able to “wrestle a firearm away” from one of the two male attackers before the other shot him.
The shooting happened two days before the commanders were due to commit their first active roster for the 2022 season. Robinson, who was selected in the third round of the draft in April, was poised to play a key role on offense, possibly even opening the season as the commanders’ starting backlog.
But instead of preparing for the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, Robinson underwent surgery the day after the shooting at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and embarked on a week-long rehabilitation program to return to the field.
Fortunately, the bullets, one of which landed just above his knee and the other in his hip area, caused no significant damage and avoided major ligaments and bones.
Robinson was placed on the commanders’ injured reserve list, putting him out of action for four weeks before returning to training. He made his NFL debut in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, recording nine carries for 22 yards.
“I was too happy. I can’t even explain it,” he said the following week. “I’m just blessed to be here, I really am. I feel like I’m living my second life.”
In Robinson’s four games (including two starts) this season, he has a total of 54 carries, 175 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, as well as two catches for 13 yards.
Contee had previously said: the attackers were found to be between 15 and 17 years old. Police said a firearm was recovered about a block south of the shooting. Prince George’s County Police said the stolen vehicle the two used to flee the crime scene was recovered about four miles from FedEx Field.
The number of underage arrests is up nearly 13 percent compared to the same period last year, Contee said. He said that meant nearly 900 children had been arrested in connection with crimes.
“That’s a very alarming number,” he added.
After the shooting, commander-coach Ron Rivera said he could “feel the anger swelling” over Robinson’s plight and gun violence in the United States. Wearing a “Wear Orange” T-shirt in support of the anti-gun violence movement, he urged more discussion about gun safety.
Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) said that “what we have seen in this case and others is simply a willful use of a firearm that hurts someone.”
Robinson’s shooting also brought new attention to problematic gun violence in DC and attempts by city leaders to disrupt crime in three entertainment areas, including the H Street corridor, which is home to popular restaurants and bars.
Peter Hermann, Lauren Lumpkin and Razzan Nakhlawi contributed to this report.
