WASHINGTON – In a stunning turn of events, Travis Thomas, 17, of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to shooting multiple rounds in an elementary school playground and armed carjacking charges. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the charges, which were brought under Title 16 as Thomas was charged as an adult.
Thomas admitted to one count of assault with intent to kill while armed and two counts of armed carjacking. The Honorable Judge Neal Kravitz has scheduled sentencing for November 14, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The incident occurred on April 20, 2025, when Thomas reportedly engaged in an online argument with a rival crew member. Seeking retribution, he traveled to C.W. Harris Elementary School and discharged over 15 rounds, leaving one victim with a gunshot wound to the forehead and a skull fracture. The victim required surgery to remove a bullet from the head.
Thomas’s criminal activities didn’t stop there. The government’s investigation revealed him as a suspect in two separate armed carjackings. The first occurred on October 30, 2024, at the Safeway grocery store parking garage, and the second on November 17, 2024, on Massachusetts Avenue SE.
Thomas was apprehended on April 25, 2025, and remains in custody awaiting sentencing. The Metropolitan Police Department’s Chief Pamela Smith joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in commending the efforts of the investigators who worked tirelessly on this case.
In addition to acknowledging the hard work of the Metropolitan Police Department, Pirro and Smith also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Green for his role in prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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