Man who killed Metro employee arrested in Pennsylvania on drug charges last year
Rachel Schilke
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Police identified the man who allegedly shot and killed a Washington, D.C., Metro employee on Wednesday, with court records indicating the suspect was arrested on several drug charges in Pennsylvania last year.
Metropolitan Police Department identified the shooter as Isaiah Trotman, 31, of Southeast D.C. He is charged with first-degree murder while armed, kidnapping while armed, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
DC METRO SHOOTING AT POTOMAC AVENUE LEAVES ONE METRO EMPLOYEE DEAD
Police say they are continuing to search for a possible motive, but said he was visibly agitated and said, “I’m the killmonger” while brandishing a firearm at passengers on a bus.
This is not Trotman’s first run-in with law enforcement. While court databases indicate that Trotman has had no legal run-ins in Washington or Maryland, he was arrested in Pennsylvania on several drug charges and public intoxication in April 2022. Upon arrest, police found 12 bags of meth, marijuana, and other paraphernalia in Trotman’s SUV, per DCist.
Three weeks ago, he pleaded guilty to one drug charge, with a sentence of up to 15 years. He was due to be sentenced on April 17.
Trotman allegedly shot four victims in total, all adult males, on Wednesday. One was Metro employee Robert Cunningham, who had intervened when Trotman allegedly confronted a woman on the Potomac Avenue Metro station platform. Metro identified Cunningham on Wednesday afternoon and lowered its flags to half-staff in his honor.
“On behalf of the Metro Board, words cannot express how saddened we are to learn about the death of Mr. Cunningham,” Chairman Paul C. Smedberg said in a statement. ”We understand that the employee acted with extreme bravery to help a customer who was being threatened by the shooter. ”
Three other victims are in the hospital. Two have leg injuries and one has an injured finger, per police.
Police said the incident began when Trotman displayed a gun while on a bus approaching Potomac Avenue station. He followed a passenger off the bus and shot the person in the leg. He then approached someone purchasing a MetroCard and shot that person in the leg as well.
While confronting a woman down on the platform, Cunningham attempted to intervene, causing Trotman to fatally shoot him, police said. Bystanders reportedly tackled Trotman to the ground and disarmed him after he attempted to board a train car.
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Metro General Manager Randy Clarke expressed his condolences in response to Cunningham’s death and said in a statement that “gun violence must stop.”
“Unfortunately, Metro is not immune to the violence that our country is experiencing right now. These senseless acts must be addressed together by our leaders and community,” Clarke said. “We will take time to process this loss and take care of our employees. We are all hurting and will continue to lean on each other for support.”