WASHINGTON (7News) — An 18-year-old just got hit with 69 charges accusing him of shooting into a crowd around a metro bus.
Officials said he was rejected by a girl he had just groped and decided to just start shooting.
The incident started on the bus and ended outside the bus stop on 16th and Missouri in Northwest D.C.
Police said Anthony Del Cid- Morales committed a mass shooting at that bus stop back in January.
Police said Morales hit five people.
RELATED | 2 kids, 3 adults hurt after argument on bus leads to shooting in Northwest DC
When the young girl got off the back of the bus, investigators said Del Cid-Morales got off in the front and then started shooting.
Three of the victims were with the young girl, another victim was just waiting at the bus stop to get home, and one victim got hit while they were just enjoying an evening walk. All because the police say he was denied by a minor.
Del Cid -Morales is facing one charge of possession of a firearm and assault with intent to kill for each person police say he put in harm’s way when he started shooting at the bus stop. He was arrested just yesterday.
7News was there moments after the January shooting. Back then, interim MPD chief Jeffery Carroll told 7News there was a packed bus and a bus stop of witnesses.
“This is not the way we resolve disputes,” said Carroll. “If we have a conflict, we work things out we don’t pull out gun fire and that’s the issue we have. Too many illegal firearms that we have in the community.”
Del Cid- Morales is also facing a sexual assault charge after he allegedly touched the girl on her backside and a charge for wearing a mask while allegedly committing the crimes. 7News spoke to passengers on the bus, including Bethany Allen, who claimed passengers were trapped in a dangerous situation.
“I started hearing young women screaming and crying, and it was clear some people had been shot, and what happened next was nothing,” said Allen. “The bus didn’t move her did close the door or move the bus at all.”
Passengers said this was all while the shooter was just feet away.
“He said I’m required to stay at the scene,” said Allen.
Del Cid- Morales does not have a bond. He’ll be back in court in July. There are also multiple enhancements to his charges because the crime occurred on or near the metro bus.
When it comes to the safety of passengers on the metro bus, general manager Randy Clarke said all operators are trained to do what’s safest for them and their passengers.
