U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced this week that a 17-year-old, identified as Marcellus Dyson Jr., has been charged in the brazen shooting of an off-duty D.C. firefighter. Federal prosecutors moved to charge the teen as an adult, signaling that some in the justice system finally understand the stakes when violent teenagers terrorize our streets.
The firefighter, Gary Dziekan, was walking home on Capitol Hill when the suspect allegedly demanded his phone and then shoved a gun into his chest, touching off a desperate struggle that left both men wounded. Dziekan’s split-second decision to grab the barrel likely saved lives, but he still sustained a serious chest wound and required hospital care — a stark reminder that even our first responders are not immune from the violence sweeping the city.
Prosecutors say Dyson faces upgraded counts including armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and aggravated assault while armed, charges that carry mandatory minimums and the possibility of meaningful prison time. Charging him as an adult was the right move; when juveniles commit adult-level violence, they must face adult consequences so the public can be protected and justice can be served.
This case also exposes the rot in D.C.’s public-safety apparatus. Reports say the wounded firefighter tried 911 and, frustrated by delays, called his own firehouse for help — an indefensible failure that puts citizens and first responders at risk. Mayor and council officials who preach compassion but fail to fund and fix basics like reliable emergency dispatch should answer to taxpayers for these lapses.
Make no mistake: this is about policy and culture. Years of soft-on-crime excuses, juvenile leniency, and hollow “youth diversion” programs have created a permissive environment where armed teens feel emboldened to rob and shoot without fear of real punishment. Conservatives have warned about this for years — it’s why we push for accountability, stronger penalties for violent juveniles, and support for prosecutors who refuse to go soft on career criminals.
Jeanine Pirro’s decision to upgrade the charges deserves support from every level of government and every citizen who values safety over satire. We must back prosecutors and police who act decisively, expand the tools to try violent juveniles as adults when warranted, and restore order on the streets so fathers, mothers, and our brave first responders can walk home without fear.
If Washington’s leaders refuse to act, the inevitable consequence will be more victims and more nights where Americans look over their shoulders. Hardworking patriots deserve a justice system that protects families and punishes predators, not one that excuses violent behavior because of age or ideology. We owe it to the firefighter who survived this attack and to every community in this city to demand better, fight harder, and secure the peace our citizens deserve.
