In a surprising turn of events, a routine fare evasion check on a Washington, D.C. Metrobus led to the discovery of a loaded shotgun. Around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, plainclothes transit officers confronted a man, identified as 30-year-old Gerald Evans, after he boarded an X2 route bus without paying. When officers attempted to cite him, Evans allegedly refused to identify himself, resulting in his arrest.
During the subsequent search, authorities found the loaded shotgun concealed beneath Evans' coat. This discovery led to a slew of charges against Evans, including possession of a prohibited weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of unregistered ammunition, being a fugitive from justice, and, of course, fare evasion.
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) highlighted this incident as a prime example of their fare enforcement efforts in action. The firearm in Evans' possession was reported stolen from Prince George's County, Maryland. Further investigation revealed an outstanding felony warrant for theft against Evans from Anne Arundel County, Maryland.
This incident follows WMATA's November announcement of a crackdown on fare evasion, prompted by reports that nearly 70% of riders were not paying for their trips. This arrest underscores the potential dangers associated with fare evasion and highlights the importance of WMATA's increased enforcement efforts.
