Detectives with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Major Crash Investigations Unit seek the public’s assistance in identifying and locating suspects sought in a fatal hit and run resulting that occurred on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at the intersection of 18th Street and Florida Avenue, Northwest.
The decedent has been identified as 33 year-old Rakesh Patel, of Silver Spring, MD. Dr. Patel was a Medical Intensive Care Unit fellow at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Detectives were previously searching for the car, which belonged to the victim. The car has since been recovered.
Preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 8:03 pm, suspect entered the victim’s unoccupied vehicle in the 1800 block of Vernon Street, Northwest. The suspect attempted to flee the scene in the vehicle and struck the victim at the listed location. The suspect then fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital for treatment. After all life-saving efforts failed, the victim was pronounced dead.
The suspects were captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in the photos below and in this video: https://youtu.be/xsiDm23z1hg
Anyone who has knowledge of these individuals should call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Department’s TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to 25,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible in this case.
MedStar Washington released a statement on Dr. Pastel’s passing:
“We are heartbroken to learn of the sudden passing of Dr. Rakesh (Rick) Patel. He was the victim of a carjacking and a hit-and-run in the District, according to Metropolitan police.
Dr. Patel was one of our Medical Intensive Care Unit fellows at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. After completing his Internal Medicine Residency at MedStar Washington, he stayed with us to complete his Infectious Diseases fellowship and was currently training as a Critical Care fellow.
He will be greatly missed by those whose lives he touched. Please keep Dr. Patel’s family and peers in your thoughts and
prayers during the days ahead.”
