The video is still out there. If you’ve spent any time on social media over the last few years, you might have stumbled across the grainy, terrifying footage of a Honda Accord flipping onto its side on a sidewalk in Washington, D.C. It’s a tragedy that feels like a fever dream. Mohammad Anwar, a 66-year-old immigrant from Pakistan who was just out there trying to provide for his family, lost his life because two teenage girls—ages 13 and 15 at the time—wanted to steal his car.
When we talk about the two girls who killed an Uber driver, we aren't just talking about a random crime. This wasn't a calculated hit. It was a chaotic, botched carjacking that happened in broad daylight near Nationals Park.
Anwar was a grandfather. He was a guy who worked hard. Honestly, the details of his final moments are gut-wrenching because they were so preventable. He was literally hanging off the side of his own car as the teenagers accelerated. They didn't stop. They didn't pull over when he screamed. They just kept going until the car smashed into a metal fence and flipped.
The Reality of the March 2021 Carjacking
It happened on a Tuesday afternoon. Specifically, March 23, 2021.
The two girls used a stun gun on Anwar. That’s how it started. Most people think carjackings involve a firearm, but in this case, the weapon of choice was a Taser-like device. They caught him near the Navy Yard metro station.
Imagine being 66 years old, sitting in your car between deliveries, and suddenly two kids are shocking you and trying to slide into the driver's seat. Anwar didn't just give up. He fought back. He was halfway out of the vehicle, stuck between the door and the frame, when the 15-year-old slammed the gas.
The car sped down N Street SE. It hit a parked car. It hit a curb. The force was enough to tip the Honda onto its side. When the dust settled, Anwar was lying on the pavement with catastrophic injuries. He didn't survive.
What really rattled the public wasn't just the death. It was the reaction. In the bystander video that went viral, one of the girls can be heard shouting about her cell phone being inside the wrecked car while Anwar lay dying a few feet away. That lack of immediate remorse? It sparked a national conversation about juvenile justice that still hasn't cooled down.
👉 See also: NYC Subway 6 Train Delay: What Actually Happens Under Lexington Avenue
Why This Case Broke the Internet
Social media is a weird place. Sometimes a tragedy happens and it stays local, but the two girls who killed an Uber driver became a global talking point. Why?
- The Viral Footage: We live in an era where everything is recorded. Seeing the crash happen in real-time made it impossible to ignore.
- The Age of the Suspects: 13 and 15. Those aren't just young ages; those are middle-school ages. People couldn't wrap their heads around how kids that young could be involved in something so violent.
- The "Gig Economy" Risk: For every Uber or DoorDash driver out there, this was a literal nightmare come true. It highlighted just how vulnerable delivery workers are.
There was also a lot of misinformation. Some people claimed the girls got off scot-free. Others claimed they were tried as adults. Neither is exactly true. Because of D.C. local laws, specifically regarding the age of the 13-year-old, they couldn't be tried in the adult system.
The Legal Fallout and Sentencing
The 15-year-old and the 13-year-old eventually pleaded guilty to felony murder. In the District of Columbia, the maximum sentence for a juvenile in this situation is commitment to the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) until they turn 21.
That’s it.
For many, this felt like a slap on the wrist. For others, it was a reflection of a system that believes children can be rehabilitated. The judge in the case, Lynn Leibovitz, didn't have a lot of wiggle room. By law, the goal of the juvenile system is "rehabilitation over retribution."
The 15-year-old was sentenced to the maximum possible juvenile term. The 13-year-old was also placed in a secure facility. They will be free by the time they are young adults.
Understanding the Rise in Juvenile Carjackings
This wasn't an isolated incident. If you look at the stats from 2020 to 2024, carjackings in major cities like D.C., Chicago, and New Orleans skyrocketed.
✨ Don't miss: No Kings Day 2025: What Most People Get Wrong
Why are kids doing this?
Experts like those at the Council on Criminal Justice have pointed to a "perfect storm." You’ve got the social isolation from the pandemic years, the influence of social media "challenges" (like the Kia Boys trend, though this Honda carjacking predated that), and a lack of traditional after-school support systems.
Basically, carjacking became a high-stakes game for some bored, disenfranchised teens. They weren't looking to sell the cars for parts; they were looking for joyrides. But as we saw with Mohammad Anwar, a joyride can turn into a murder in about fifteen seconds.
Debunking the Myths
Let’s clear some stuff up because the internet loves to twist facts.
- "They were released the next day." No. They were held in secure detention.
- "It was a race-based crime." There is zero evidence from the investigation suggesting this was a hate crime. It was a crime of opportunity—a carjacking for the sake of stealing a car.
- "Uber did nothing." Uber actually released a statement and worked with the family to help with funeral expenses through their insurance and support channels. Was it enough? That’s up for debate, but they weren't silent.
The Impact on the Uber Community
If you drive for a living, you've probably thought about this case. It changed the way drivers look at passengers.
Uber and Lyft have since implemented more safety features, like the "Emergency Button" and "Audio Recording" during trips. But these features only work if you have the time to use them. In a carjacking, you don't have time. You have seconds.
The family of Mohammad Anwar described him as a "kind and gentle soul." He had moved to the U.S. to build a better life. He was the quintessential American dream story that ended in a senseless American tragedy.
🔗 Read more: NIES: What Most People Get Wrong About the National Institute for Environmental Studies
Actionable Safety Steps for Gig Workers
You can’t control what other people do, but you can change how you operate. If you're out there driving, here is the reality of staying safe in 2026.
Trust your gut, always. If a pickup location looks sketchy or the people waiting don't match the vibe, just keep driving. Your rating doesn't matter more than your life.
Keep the doors locked until you've verified the rider. Don't let people just hop in. Crack the window, ask for the name, and make sure they aren't carrying anything suspicious.
If someone tries to take the car, let them. The car is a piece of metal and plastic. It’s insured. You are not replaceable. Mohammad Anwar tried to stop the theft, and while his bravery is noted, it cost him everything. If a weapon is involved or a struggle starts, get out and get away.
Invest in a dual-facing dashcam. Having a camera that records both the road and the interior of the car is a massive deterrent. It might not stop a crime, but it ensures there is undeniable evidence if something goes sideways.
The story of the two girls who killed an Uber driver remains a dark stain on the history of D.C. crime. It serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the complicated, often frustrating nature of the juvenile justice system. For the Anwar family, there is no "justice" that brings him back, but the public awareness of the case continues to drive conversations about urban safety and youth intervention.