6 teens indicted in fatal stabbing on Metro platform

Six teens face murder charges in the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old who was killed at the Woodley Park Metro Station after confronting a group who robbed him earlier in the night, prosecutors said Wednesday.

Previously only Chavez Myers, 17, of District Heights, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Olijawon Griffin. Griffin was stabbed once in the heart during a confrontation on the Metro platform in November.

Indictments announced Wednesday also level felony murder charges against Muquan Cawthorne, 16, of Mount Rainier; Isaiah Gant, 16, of Hyattsville; Gary Maye, 17, of Hyattsville; Deon Jefferson, 17, of Landover; and Immanuel Swann, 17, of Brentwood.

Nine teens were arrested in connection with the homicide, but three others face juvenile assault charges.

The group had conspired to commit robberies in the District the night of Nov. 17 and targeted Griffin, stealing his Helly Hansen coat and hat at gunpoint behind a gas station in Adams Morgan, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District. Griffin, of Olney, and two friends confronted the group later that night when they encountered the group at the Metro station and tried to retrieve his stolen belongings.

The confrontation led to a violent melee inside the station, as the group beat and kicked one of Griffin’s friends. As Griffin tried to get the group away from his injured friend, Mr. Myers stabbed him in the chest from behind, prosecutors said.

In addition to the murder charges, the six teens were indicted on charges of armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault causing significant bodily injury, and weapons offenses for their roles in attacks on Griffin and one of his friends.

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