Overview
- Officials identified the suspect as Jerrold Coates, who was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department and charged with second-degree murder while armed, according to a Justice Department official.
- Police say the Dec. 23 crash occurred around 10:10 p.m. on eastbound I-695 near South Capitol Street as Bennett stood outside his cruiser to help a motorist with a broken-down vehicle.
- Authorities previously said the striking vehicle was believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed and that the driver remained at the scene and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
- Bennett, 32, an eight-year MPD veteran and Ballou Senior High School graduate who coached and mentored students, died last week after more than two weeks in the hospital; he is survived by his wife and son.
- MPD and city leaders honored Bennett with a procession Thursday, and his death is recorded as the department’s 127th line-of-duty death.