District Man Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Broad Daylight Carjacking At Gas StationGood Samaritans Came To Victim’s Aid; Quick Police Work Led To Arrest

     WASHINGTON – Byron Dunn, 25, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to a seven-year prison term for a carjacking that took place earlier this year at a gas station in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Dunn pled guilty to a carjacking charge in September 2014, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He was sentenced on Nov. 18, 2014 by the Honorable Anita Josey-Herring. Upon completion of his prison term, he will be placed on three years of supervised release.

     According to the government’s evidence, Dunn approached the victim on May 20, 2014, at about 11:15 a.m., at a gas station in the 3700 block of Minnesota Avenue NE. Dunn asked if he could take some photographs of the victim’s car, a silver 2006 Chrysler 300 with 24-inch chrome rims. The victim agreed, rolled up his windows, and went to pay for his fuel. When the victim returned and started pumping gas, Dunn stood next to him. Dunn brandished a handgun and ordered the victim to give up his keys. When the victim ran away from the gas station, Dunn gave chase, and caught up to the victim.  Dunn ordered the victim back to his car, and threatened to shoot him unless he handed over the keys. Moments later, three people pulled into the station in a Chevy Suburban. One confronted Dunn while another urged the victim to drive away.

     The victim managed to escape and he quickly flagged officers with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Police stopped Dunn a few minutes later and recovered a loaded .45-caliber handgun. Dunn has been in custody ever since.

     In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, Victim/Witness Security Specialists Michael Hailey and Debra Cannon, and Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Gilbert. Finally he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. Eckert, Jr., who investigated and prosecuted the case.