Maryland Man Indicted on Robbery and Murder Charges for April 2024 Slaying Inside Victim’s Apartment

            WASHINGTON – U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced that Tommy Whack, 35, of Maryland, was indicted last week on robbery and murder charges stemming from the April 1, 2024 slaying of 53-year-old Fasil Teklemariam.

            Whack was indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of robbery and first-degree murder while armed – felony murder. Whack was arraigned on June 27, 2025 before the Honorable Neal Kravitz.

            According to the government’s evidence, on the evening of April 1, 2024, Fasil Teklemariam was home in his apartment located at 1360 Peabody Street NW. After Whack  gained entry into the building and Mr. Teklemariam’s apartment unit, Whack and the co-conspirator bludgeoned the victim to death, smashing glass bottles on his head and stabbing him in multiple places on his body with a knife. Whack and his co-conspirators robbed Mr. Teklemariam of his phone, personal papers, and other belongings inside the apartment. The victim’s body was found four days later by the apartment management staff.     

            Joining the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.