The Fourth of July weekend took a turn for many in the Navy Yard neighborhood.
The Metropolitan Police Department said it arrested nearly two dozen people for shooting illegal fireworks, and the majority of them were under 18.
On Monday, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed emergency legislation to expand the youth curfew, making it 11 p.m. across the District and 8 p.m. in certain areas — but some say it’s not enough.
Cell phone cameras caught the chaotic moments Friday as illegal fireworks flew into nearby buildings and residents ran for cover.
“It sounded like a warzone,” said Navy Yard resident Elissa De Souza.
De Souza said after a few years in Navy Yard, she’s used to a little noise on weekends — but nothing like this.
She said the fireworks didn’t stop until early in the morning.
“I packed my bags and got out of here,” De Souza said. “[…] Having to listen to that noise back and forth all night long, until 3 a.m. maybe that day, it was just hard to sleep and hard for the puppies.”
DC police said 23 arrests were made for unlawful activity in Navy Yard Friday and Saturday. About 20 of those were firework related and 20 were juveniles arrested. MPD said there were two curfew violations, and they recovered 400 illegal fireworks like roman candles, firecrackers and rockets.
“These kids were shooting off fireworks and rockets that they were shooting at people,” said ANC Commissioner Edward Daniels.
Daniels said this weekend was the worst he’s ever seen, and now he’s getting an earful from neighbors.
“This was the most chaotic Fourth of July that I think this neighborhood has witnessed in many years and a lot of residents were asking, ‘Hey, where is MPD? Are you enforcing the curfew?’” Daniels said.
But Daniels is also worried the expansion of the youth curfew won’t do enough for Navy Yard residents.
“It helps, it’s a starting point because I know that National Harbor, the Wharf have those super early curfews and those security teams are reporting that it’s working,” he said.
“[…] There also need to be tighter consequences. I think a lot of people know what they can get away with and they’re pushing those boundaries.”
Daniels said they are pushing to make the youth curfew 8 p.m. in Navy Yard. He said they will draft a resolution to do that at the next anc meeting, which is set for next week.
