Cops Nab Teen Wanted in Adams Morgan Stabbings

(Updated at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6) An 18-year-old man sought in three stabbings and a two robberies with a knife in the Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights areas this week has been apprehended, police announced yesterday.

Christian Mendoza of Northwest D.C. was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of robbery with assault with intent to kill and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in the four crimes. David Maxted, Mendoza’s lawyer, wasn’t immediately available to comment.

The first stabbing happened on the 3100 block of 16th Street NW about 11:30 p.m. Monday, according to authorities. The victim in the assault said several men robbed him and someone stabbed him.

On Tuesday about 1:15 a.m., the suspect hit a man in the head with a rock and stabbed him in the back outside My Canton Restaurant on the 1700 block of Columbia Road NW, police said.

Less than two hours later, the suspect chased and stabbed another man on the 2800 block of 16th Street NW after the victim refused to say whether he was a member of the MS-13 gang, which was founded in Los Angeles.

Later in the day, the suspect and another person robbed a man at knifepoint on the 2900 block of Sherman Avenue NW about 12:30 p.m. after the suspects said they were part of the criminal group, according to authorities.

Police still are investigating the cases.

UPDATE: Police have made two more arrests in the crime spree.

Anyone with information about these cases is asked to call the police at 202-727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. DC Crime Solvers currently offers a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons wanted for serious crimes committed in the District of Columbia.