A high-speed police pursuit from Annapolis, Maryland ended in Southeast Washington, D.C. with the death of two armed robbery suspects and the arrest of a third in the afternoon of June 2.Â
The robbers were in a white BMW linked to a string of armed robberies across the Baltimore-Washington region, and crashed into a tree.
U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica M. E. Taylor reported that two suspects were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries following their arrest. The crash occurred near the intersection of 41st Street and Southern Avenue, close to the Prince George’s County border.
Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal E. Awad detailed the sequence of events, stating that officers spotted the suspect vehicle around 12:15 p.m. in Annapolis. The BMW fled westbound on Maryland Route 50, leading to a multi-agency pursuit that culminated in the fatal crash.
The incident is part of a larger crime wave known as “bank jugging,” where criminals target individuals making bank deposits or withdrawals. “There’s been an epidemic throughout our region,” Chief Awad explained in a press conference on June 2. “In fact, there’ve been more than 40 incidents throughout this region, year to date.”
Sources confirmed to local news that the suspects were believed to be responsible for robberies outside two banks in Prince George’s County on Monday, as well as at least four similar incidents on Friday. A gun was recovered near the crash site, believed to have been tossed from the vehicle during the pursuit.
The crash caused road closures between 36th Place and Fort Dupont Street. An anonymous eyewitness described a harrowing scene, reporting that the fleeing vehicle collided with either a tree or a pole before bursting into flames. The witness observed one person on fire who had to be extinguished, and another trapped beneath the vehicle.
The crash’s impact was so severe that the BMW had to be towed away in two separate pieces. As authorities continue their investigation, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by both criminal activities and high-speed pursuits in urban areas.
Chief Awad expressed sympathy for all affected: “Our hearts go out to all of the people who have fallen victim to these suspects who choose to victimize innocent people and their lives. I also fully recognize there will be families grieving as a result of the decision these young individuals made today.”
The fatal crash is under joint investigation by the Anne Arundel County Police Department, the Metropolitan Police Department, and the U.S. Park Police.
