Police say four perps and two pups are in the wind
Bruno the French Bulldog goes missing in a dog kidnapping incident. MPD’s photo
Wednesday night’s crime spree resulted in two incidents of dog kidnapping, two non-lethal shootings, and the theft of a pair of Jordans, according to DC police. The MPD announced that they were looking for four suspects in the case.
The action began at around 4:12 p.m., police documents say, when a man was walking his one-year-old French Bulldog, Bruno, near his home in Brightwood. After seeing a “suspicious vehicle” drive past twice, the victim said four men emerged from the car—one of them brandishing a gun—and demanded his dog, wallet and phone.
The suspects allegedly fled with Bruno, reappearing at 4:29 p.m. to steal another dog outside the CVS on Shaw. According to the police report, the suspects pulled up in a gray Audi to where the victim was standing, got out of the car, and pointed a “black semi-automatic pistol” at her, demanding her iPhone and puppy. The suspects allegedly fled with the pup, Pablo — an 11-week-old tan and black Australian Shepherd with one blue and one brown eye.
Ten minutes later, carrying two puppies, the suspects allegedly shot and injured two men. Officers responded to reports of gunshots in Eckington and the men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. (MPD hasn’t released any additional details about this shoot yet.)
Finally, at around 4:48 p.m. — roughly half an hour since the first pup was caught — the vehicle allegedly approached two people sitting outside at NoMa. According to the police report, one of the suspects brandished a gun and told the victims they would be shot if they did not take off their shoes. One of the victims apparently complied, handing over a pair of black and white Jordan 12s and an iPhone, while the other victim was able to run inside.
Police say they have found the gray Audi used in the stunt, but they are still looking for four suspects and two dogs. The Washingtonian has reached out to dog owners for comment.
Abby Sevcik, Pablo’s co-owner, Tweeted last night that she was “devastated” at the loss of Pablo and believes that dognappers will try to sell her puppies online. He offered a $5,000 reward for Pablo’s return and encouraged people to explore online marketplaces such as Facebook and Craigslist.
Offering a $5,000 reward for the safe, no questions asked, return of our pups can be found anywhere. He was taken from us at gunpoint yesterday in DC. We just want him to come home. #SavePablo pic.twitter.com/GdUR4gzOc2
— Abby Sev (@abbysev) April 14, 2022