Takoma Park Police said Friday that an off-duty Pentagon police officer lied to authorities about the circumstances that led him to fatally shoot two men on Wednesday.
Our investigation reveals that [his] overview of events was inconsistent with the facts in the case,” Police Chief Antonio DeVaul said during a press conference.
David Hall Dixon reportedly said he saw three men breaking into a car Wednesday morning and that he opened fire after they nearly ran him over. Investigators, however, found that he was not in danger when he fired the shots that killed Dominique Williams and James Lionel Johnson, according to charging documents obtained by The Washington Post.
Chief DeVaul said although police confirmed the men had been breaking into cars, Mr. Dixon acted outside his jurisdiction. He was not in uniform and “had no lawful or justifiable reason to shoot and kill Mr. Williams and Mr. Johnson.”
“Mr. Dixon was acting as a citizen when he approached these individuals, so we want our citizens to be our eyes and ears, but to call us to be good witnesses — not intercede themselves,” Chief DeVaul said.
Mr. Dixon is facing two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted second-degree murder, three counts of use of a handgun in the commission of a felony, and reckless endangerment in connection with the shootings.
Police said they arrested Mr. Dixon Friday morning without incident and he is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Detention Center.
Michael Thomas, the lone survivor who was driving the car that Mr. Dixon shot at, will not face any changes, police said.
Mr. Thomas was a friend of the two men and the owner of the car, according to an attorney for the family of Mr. Johnson.
