Felon Who Harassed Family on WMATA Bus with an Uzi-Style Pistol Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

           WASHINGTON – Ricardo Rush, 29, a previously convicted felon residing in the District of Columbia, was sentenced on October 23 to 60 months in prison in connection with a March 2025 incident during which he pulled out an Uzi-style semi-automatic pistol on a crowded Metrobus and threatened to kill two parents and their young children, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. 

           Rush pleaded guilty on June 17 before Judge Amir H. Ali to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, to assault with a dangerous weapon, and to possession of a firearm during crime of violence or dangerous offense. In addition to the five-year prison term, Judge Ali ordered Rush to serve three years of supervised release.

           According to court documents, Rush boarded a WMATA bus on March 8, 2025 about 11:26 a.m. on the 300 block of Ridge Road SE. Four minutes later, a man and a woman accompanying two small children board the same bus on the 4800 block of Texas Avenue SE. 

           The family sat in the row in front of Rush, who began harrassing them. About 11:32 a.m., Rush stood up, stated “Bitch, sit down, this isn’t a toy,” and pointed a black pistol in the woman’s face.

The bus pulled over. Rush continued to intimidate the woman, waved the gun, and threatened to kill all four family members.

           About 11:33 a.m., Rush stepped off the bus and pointed the weapon at the woman for a third time. Two minutes later, Rush reboarded the bus. He threatened again to kill the man and woman as he held the firearm, pointing it at the man. Rush head-butted the man and threatened him.

           After threatening the family again, Rush exited the bus and fled the scene.

           On April 10, 2025, about 11:10 a.m., law enforcement located Rush at his residence.  Officers located a black MasterPiece Arms Defender semi-automatic handgun loaded with one round in the chamber, and which contained a high-capacity magazine loaded with 18 rounds of ammunition. They recovered an additional magazine holding 13 rounds.

           Rush had previously been convicted in 2021 of assault with a dangerous weapon in  Superior Court and as a felon was prohibited from possessing any firearm.

           This case was investigated by WMATA and the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared English and Special Assistant Haley Pennington.