D.C. Man Held Worker With Axe

⏱ 3 min read

Thomas Venable, 59, isn’t just delusional – he’s a menace. Last September 29th, around 12:30 p.m., Venable trapped a social worker inside his Northwest D.C. apartment on the 5400 block of Connecticut Avenue, armed with a metal pole and then, an axe. The motive? A paranoid spiral about stolen Bitcoin and a perceived bedbug problem with his aid provider, Friendship Place.

The caseworker, who had been checking in on Venable monthly for six months, walked into a nightmare. Venable immediately blocked the door, refusing to let her leave. When a call to his supervisor went unanswered, things escalated fast. He grabbed the axe, snarling at the worker to “sit the f**k down” and threatening to “dismantle” her if she tried to run. He even ranted about preferring jail to returning to lockup.

A tense standoff followed, with Venable’s supervisor eventually managing to talk him down and secure the caseworker’s release. Cops swarmed the scene the next day, taking Venable into custody where he’s remained ever since. Prosecutors laid out a clear case detailing Venable’s threats and the weapons he wielded.

On March 12, 2026, a D.C. jury delivered the verdict: guilty on all counts, including armed kidnapping, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, threatening to kidnap and injure, and related weapons charges. MPD Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll acknowledged the guilty verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for May 29th before Judge Judith Pipe. The question isn’t if Venable will see prison time – it’s how much.