Bethesda man arrested in July hammer attack in Northwest D.C.

Bethesda man arrested in July hammer attack in Northwest D.C.
Quick Arrest Made in Northwest D.C. Robbery Attempt WASHINGTON, DC - Following a Northwest robbery attempt, D.C. Metro Police Department’s Third District detectives have swiftly apprehended a suspect. The incident occurred today around 2:53 PM, in the 1200 block of W Street, Northwest. The suspect, identified as 20-year-old Lenare Leath, Jr. of Northwest D.C., allegedly brandished a knife and pushed the victim to the ground in an attempt to steal their property. After a struggle, the suspect fled empty-handed but was quickly caught by responding officers. The victim sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital. Leath has been charged with Assault with Intent to Commit Robbery. Photo 107991078 | Arrest © Oleg Dudko | Dreamstime.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A quiet Saturday night in Northwest D.C.’s Adams Morgan neighborhood turned violent in July when a man attacked another person with a hammer and fled the scene.

The assault, reported just after 10 p.m. on July 13, occurred on the 2400 block of 18th Street, Northwest, a stretch known for its busy nightlife. Responding officers found evidence of the attack, but the suspect had already escaped by vehicle.

On Tuesday, 37-year-old Magel Duarte of Bethesda, Maryland, was arrested and charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon following a months-long investigation by the Third District Crime Suppression Team.

Detectives secured a warrant for Duarte’s arrest, linking him to the violent incident that left the victim injured. Details of the victim’s condition have not been released.

The arrest marks the culmination of efforts to resolve the high-profile assault in one of D.C.’s most trafficked areas.