USA 9
July 8, 2015
Police have arrested the man who was wanted in connection with fatally stabbing a person on a Metro train over the weekend.
According to police, Jasper Spires was wanted on charges of first-degree murder while armed for stabbing 24-year-old Kevin Joseph Sutherland on a Red Line train approaching the NoMa-Gallaudet Metro Station. Police found Spires in the 4800 block of Georgia Avenue on Monday.
Police say the stabbing happened at around 12:50 p.m. on Saturday. The NoMa station was closed for several hours while police investigated the incident.
Sutherland was a recent American University graduate and member of the student government.
Spires was in police custody on Friday after being arrested last week for simple assault. He was released awaiting trial after his arrangement, and police believe he was out of custody for one day before he stabbed Sutherland.
Sutherland’s death was the 69th homicide in D.C. this year, and a shooting Saturday night brought the total up to 70. That’s a 20 percent increase in homicides from this time last year.
A reward of up to $25,000 was being offered for any information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.