2 DC Metro Employees Killed in Murder-Suicide

Police say bus driver was killed by fellow employee, who then turned the gun on himself

Apr. 11, 2026 at 9:10pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single spent shell casing on a dark concrete surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the grim aftermath of a violent incident.The tragic murder-suicide of two DC Metro employees has shaken the transit workforce and raised urgent questions about workplace violence prevention.Bethesda Today

Two Washington-area transit workers were dead before dawn Thursday, hours ahead of a scheduled DC Metro board meeting. Police say the men, both Metro employees, were killed in what investigators believe was a murder-suicide on a residential block near the Friendship Heights Metro station and the agency's Western Bus Garage.

Why it matters

The tragic incident has shaken the DC Metro workforce and raised concerns about workplace violence and the need for improved mental health support and conflict resolution programs for transit employees.

The details

According to police, 44-year-old Terrell Cross of Bethesda, Maryland drove to the Northwest DC address around 1am and shot 42-year-old Robert Stokes of Middle River, Maryland, before turning the gun on himself. Both men died at the scene despite efforts by first responders. A firearm was recovered and the preliminary investigation indicates this was a domestic related incident.

  • The incident occurred around 1am on Thursday, April 11, 2026.
  • The DC Metro board meeting was scheduled for later that day.

The players

Terrell Cross

A 44-year-old DC Metro employee from Bethesda, Maryland who allegedly shot and killed his co-worker before taking his own life.

Robert Stokes

A 42-year-old DC Metro bus driver from Middle River, Maryland who was killed by his co-worker in the murder-suicide incident.

Kristal Stokes

The wife of victim Robert Stokes, who says she initially thought her husband had been killed in a bus crash when police came to her door.

Randy Clarke

The CEO of DC Metro who stressed at the board meeting that the shooting occurred off Metro property and that there was no ongoing threat to the system or its workforce.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to continue to be a mother to all of the kids. You know, they're my kids for life, no matter what.”

— Kristal Stokes, Wife of victim Robert Stokes

“At the board meeting, Metro CEO Randy Clarke stressed that the shooting occurred off Metro property and that there was no ongoing threat to the system or its workforce.”

— Randy Clarke, CEO, DC Metro

What’s next

Metro officials said counseling and other support services are being made available to employees and their families as they grieve the tragic loss of their co-workers.

The takeaway

This heartbreaking incident underscores the need for transit agencies to prioritize employee mental health, conflict resolution, and workplace violence prevention programs to protect their workforce and the communities they serve.