Video from the DC Metropolitan Police Department shows a man trying to stab a DC Metro officer after crashing into the officer's patrol vehicle.Screen shot from DC Metro Video
The DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has released body camera videos from a Feb. 18, 2025, incident in which two different officers shot a knife-wielding suspect at two different location.
Body camera video from the first officer shows that the incident began with a crash involving the deceased suspect’s vehicle and the officer’s marked patrol vehicle.
The crash occurred about 6:15 p.m.
In its immediate aftermath, the suspect identified by officials as Surafel Zerihun, 29, tried to stab the officer through his vehicle’s open driver’s side window.
Video shows that the officer retreated to the passenger seat of the vehicle and drew his duty pistol. He also can be heard on the video issuing commands to the suspect to back up.
The suspect can be heard on the video ordering the officer to “give me your f-ing gun.”
He then reportedly lunged through the window at the officer, and the officer fired one shot.
The wounded Zerihun fell back away from the driver’s window and the officer exited the passenger side door and called for back up and an ambulance, the video shows.
Police say the suspect picked up the knife. And the video shows him advancing on the officer as the officer backed away from him down the street. The suspect was reportedly stabbing himself as he advanced.
The video then shows additional officers arriving and the suspect getting into a second officer’s vehicle and trying to drive off as the officer ordered him out of the vehicle.
At this point, the suspect fled with police following on foot. He reportedly attempted to carjack a motorist with the knife and an officer fired multiple shots, killing him.
The shooting is under review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
