2 DC boys, 14 and 16, arrested in robbery that left popular gay DJ dead

Two teenage boys have been arrested successful a convulsive robbery that near a beloved DJ dead, authorities successful Washington, D.C. announced Friday.

The 2 suspects, a 14-year-old and 16-year-old, are accused of carrying retired a series of robberies successful Northwest D.C. successful the aboriginal hours of Oct. 27 — including 1 that caused the decease of Bryan Smith, a fashionable DJ described arsenic a “pillar successful the DC queer and nightlife communities.”

Authorities responded to the 500 artifact of T St. Northwest astir 5 a.m. aft reports of a antheral recovered unconscious. The victim, aboriginal identified arsenic Smith, was transported to a section infirmary for attraction of captious injuries.

Smith, aka The Barber Streisand, had conscionable performed astatine HellBENT, an lawsuit astatine the fashionable 9:30 Club successful Northwest D.C. He was aboriginal found adjacent a cheery barroom named Uproar, The Advocate reported.

Investigators determined helium had been attacked and robbed by 2 suspects portion walking the block.

Smith “suffered immense trauma to his head,” according to a GoFundMe acceptable up by immoderate of his friends, who were hoping to rise wealth to assistance wage for his recovery.

Unfortunately, Smith wasn’t capable to recover. He died from his injuries less than 2 weeks later.

On Friday, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith announced the apprehension of 2 suspects successful the drawstring of robberies. They’ve some been charged with 3 counts of robbery, 1 number of battle with intent to perpetrate robbery and related charges. They person not been charged with execution astatine this time.

Their apprehension follows 2 weeks of “around-the-clock” investigations, constabulary said.

“[Detectives] canvassed a wide country astir each offense, uncovering video footage captious to identifying the suspects,” Assistant Chief Ramey Kyle said Friday astatine a property conference.

“We were besides capable to way cellphones taken successful the robberies and show transactions made connected stolen recognition cards. All those efforts paid disconnected aboriginal Thursday greeting erstwhile our investigators closed successful connected a 14-year-old suspect,” who was recovered dormant successful a stolen car, Kyle said.

The 16-year-old was besides arrested connected Thursday.

According to Kyle, “additional charges whitethorn beryllium brought depending connected the results of further investigating requested by the Northern Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office.”