A Washington, D.C. man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Metropolitan Police Department Officer Terry Bennett, who died on January 7, 2026 after being struck by a vehicle while responding to an earlier crash.
Jerrold Lonnell Coates, 47, was charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged role in the incident that led to Officer Bennett’s death. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Coates appeared before Superior Court Magistrate Judge Philip A. Medley on January 10, 2026. Judge Medley found probable cause for the charge and ordered Coates held without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for February 2, 2026 before Judge Rainey Brandt.
According to court documents, Officer Bennett was at the scene of a previous traffic accident on eastbound I-695 near the merger with the 3rd Street tunnel around 10:09 p.m. on December 23, 2025. He had activated his cruiser lights and deployed road flares to protect another driver involved in that crash.
A Silver 2007 Volvo XC90 then reportedly drove at high speed through slowed traffic and swerved into Officer Bennett as he stood outside his marked police vehicle. The impact threw Officer Bennett into the air; he suffered blunt force trauma injuries and was transported to Washington Hospital Center where doctors identified a traumatic brain injury and possible spinal injury. Despite medical efforts, Officer Bennett died from his injuries on January 7.
Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing the charges.
The case is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter.
“These charges are merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” according to the statement from authorities.
