April 9, 2021- 3:26 p.m
TAKOMA PARK, Md. — The off-duty Pentagon officer who allegedly shot and killed two people he said he believed were attempting to break into a car early Wednesday has been arrested and charged with murder, Takoma Park Police Department said.
The officer, identified as David Hall Dixon of Takoma Park, Md., has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of use of a handgun and reckless endangerment in the killing of 32-year-old Dominique Williams and 38-year-old James Lionel Johnson, police said.
Dixon will also be charged with attempted second-degree murder and use of a handgun in the commission of a felony in the assault against 36-year-old Michael Thomas, who police said was the driver of the vehicle Dixon shot up.
“Mr. Dixon’s overview of events was inconsistent with the facts in the case, and Mr. Dixon had no lawful or justifiable reason to shoot and kill Mr.Williams and Mr. Johnson,” Takoma Park Police Chief Antonio DeVaul said.
A Department of Defense spokeswoman confirmed to WUSA9 that the off-duty Pentagon officer involved in the shooting had been employed with the agency since July 2019.
Prior to that, a spokeswoman said, he had served as a federal police officer from 2009-2019 and also as a U.S. Army military policeman and in the U.S. Air Force as a combat crewman.
The DoD said the officer is “current on all use of force and firearms qualifications.
“The DoD also said a 2014 regulation limits off-duty law enforcement authority for PFPA officers to a “serious breach of the peace (when violence is being committed or immediately threatened) including assault and threats to kill, injure or maim.
” PFPA officers are also bound by a 2008 use-of-force regulation stating that officers may fire at moving vehicles “when an employee has a reasonable basis to believe that the vehicle poses an immediate threat of death or serious bodily harm to the employee or others.
“Chief DeVaul reiterated Friday that he does not believe this case involves Dixon’s position as a law enforcement officer.
“He was a civilian, who acted as a civilian, who happened to be a law enforcement officer in another jurisdiction,” DeVaul said. “That being said, we do not believe that Mr. Dixon had any law enforcement powers in the state of Maryland.
“Dixon is being held without bond at the Montgomery County Detention Center, and will go in front of a District Court judge Monday at 1 p.m. to set a preliminary hearing date and to determine whether he will be released pending trial.
