Two girls 13 and 15 years old have been charged with the murder of an Uber Eats driver by a district court in the U.S. capital after a botched attempt to steal his car last week.
The 66-year-old Uber Eats driver died after sustaining multiple injuries when his car crashed and overturned near Nationals Park in the district's Navy Yard neighborhood. During the trial, Detective Chad Leo of the Metropolitan Police Department said that the girls attempted to steal Mohammad Anwar's car using a stun gun.
Anwar reportedly resisted and a struggle ensued. One of the girls forcefully started the car and placed it into gear. The car suddenly accelerated and crashed into a parked car before turning over. Leo said that paramedics were able to take Anwar to the hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Video of the incident posted on social media showed the moments leading up to the crash. At the end of the video, National Guard troops were seen helping the two girls out of the wreckage while Anwar's body can be seen lying lifeless on the sidewalk.
The names of the two girls were not made public but authorities said that the 13-year-old was from Southeast D.C., while the 15-year-old was from Fort Washington, Maryland.
The two girls were charged with felony murder and armed carjacking. During their initial court appearance, the two girls pleaded "not involved," the equivalent of a "not guilty" plea in juvenile court. The two are expected to appear at another court hearing scheduled Wednesday this week.
Anwar and his family migrated to the U.S. from Pakistan in 2014. He was the father of three children and was the grandfather of four. He and his family lived in Springfield, Virginia.
"The family is devastated by this senseless crime. Mohammad Anwar was a father, a grandfather, a husband, a brother, and an uncle beloved by many here in the U.S. and in Pakistan ... The loss for his family is immeasurable," Anwar's family said in a statement.
