Police announced Tuesday the arrest of two of three suspects in the February 12 assault and robbery of former Marine Christopher Marquez at a Washington, D.C. McDonald’s restaurant located across the street from the FBI Building and just blocks from the White House. Marquez said the attack was preceded by a gang of young Black teenagers repeatedly asking him “Do you believe Black lives matter?”
Surveillance video showed Marquez exiting the restaurant being followed by a Black male who punched Marquez from behind causing him to drop to the sidewalk. Marquez was then robbed and kicked several times as he struggled to regain consciousness and stand up.
Statement by the Metropolitan Police Department:
Arrests Made in Aggravated Assault and Robbery: 900 Block of E Street, Northwest
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s First District announced two arrests have been made in an Aggravated Assault and Robbery offense that occurred in the 900 block of E Street, Northwest on Friday, February 12, 2016, at approximately 9:40 pm.
A victim was exiting a restaurant in the area when he was assaulted by suspect one. Suspect two then proceeded to take a wallet that carried a student identification card, credit cards and cash from the victim’s pocket. A third suspect also assaulted the victim. The suspects then fled the scene.
On Monday, February 22, 2016, First District Detectives and the Criminal Interdiction Unit arrested a 17-year-old juvenile male, of Northwest, D.C. and a 17-year-old juvenile female, of Northwest, D.C. The juvenile male was charged with Aggravated Assault and the juvenile female was charged with Robbery.
The investigation into this offense is on-going.
Anyone who has information regarding this case should call police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, information may be submitted to the TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. Crime Solvers of Washington, DC currently offers a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for a crime committed in the District of Columbia.
Marquez spoke to Steve Birr of the Daily Caller News Foundation, which broke the news about the attack on Marquez, saying he wants hate crimes charges brought against the attackers.
“I am glad two suspects have been arrested, but I am deeply disappointed they have not been charged with a hate crime yet,” Marquez told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “Not prosecuting this as a hate crime will only encourage more hate crimes against white people and create further division in this great country.”
Marquez was readmitted to the hospital last week for a serious head injury received in the attack. He has since been released and is recuperating.
Marquez is a decorated veteran of the Iraq War who was seen in a famous photo helping rescue a wounded Marine in Fallujah that inspired a statue placed by the group Hope for the Warriors at two Marine Corps bases entitled, “No Man Left Behind.”
Marquez also told the Daily Caller News Foundation he wants President Obama and leaders on the Black community to condemn racist attacks like was done to him.
“President Obama and leaders of the black community need to condemn these racially-motivated acts of violence if they really care about unity and starting a legitimate conversation on race,” Marquez told TheDCNF. “So far it has been a very one-sided conversation that mainly depicts the white community negatively.”
