A Washington, D.C., juvenile court handed down probation sentences to two 15-year-olds on Tuesday for their roles in the August assault of 19-year-old former Department of Government Efficiency staffer Edward Coristine, a case that drew national attention and fueled calls for tougher crime measures in the nation’s capital.

The incident unfolded in the early morning hours of August 3, 2025, in the Logan Circle neighborhood, a trendy area known for its mix of upscale residences, restaurants, and nightlife spots. Edward Coristine, a young programmer who had recently worked with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a Musk-led initiative under the Trump administration aimed at streamlining federal operations—was walking a female companion back to her vehicle after a late-night outing. As they approached the car around 3 a.m., a group of at least eight to ten individuals, mostly teenagers, began shouting from across the street, quickly escalating into an attempted carjacking. Coristine, acting instinctively to protect his friend, positioned himself between her and the approaching group, but the situation spiraled into a chaotic confrontation.

According to police reports and Coristine’s own account shared in subsequent interviews, the attackers swarmed him, landing multiple blows that left him with a broken nose, a concussion, and significant bruising across his face and body. Photos of his bloodied face, which circulated widely on social media in the days following, showed a young man slumped against the vehicle, his features swollen and marked by the ordeal. The female companion managed to escape into the car and drive away, but not before alerting authorities. Coristine, dazed but determined, later recounted the moments to Fox News, describing how he fumbled for his phone to call for help amid the frenzy. “I knew something was really off about the situation,” he said, emphasizing the sudden shift from a casual walk to a life-threatening encounter.

Metropolitan Police Department officers responded swiftly, arriving on the scene within minutes and detaining two suspects nearby: a 15-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, both residents of Hyattsville, Maryland. The pair, identified only by initials in court documents to protect their privacy as minors, were charged with simple assault, unarmed carjacking, and related counts. Video footage from nearby surveillance cameras and witness statements helped investigators piece together the sequence, confirming the teens’ involvement in initiating the approach and physical altercation. The other participants in the group scattered and remain at large, with authorities continuing to seek leads in the case.

Coristine, who earned the online moniker “Big Balls” from his bold social media persona and early involvement in DOGE—where he contributed to efficiency audits and tech integrations—became an overnight symbol of urban vulnerability. His high school nickname, combined with his quick thinking during the attack, amplified his story across platforms. The graphic images of his injuries quickly went viral, shared by high-profile figures including President Donald Trump on Truth Social, who decried the incident as emblematic of “totally out of control” crime in D.C. Trump used the post to advocate for stricter laws, proposing that teens aged 14 and older be tried as adults in federal court for such offenses. Elon Musk, the architect of DOGE, echoed the sentiment on X, praising Coristine’s bravery in shielding his companion and calling for a “federalization” of D.C.’s policing to address rising incidents.

The assault struck a nerve in a city grappling with a surge in violent crime. Washington, D.C., had reported a 35% increase in carjackings year-over-year through mid-2025, according to preliminary Metropolitan Police data, prompting a multi-agency crackdown announced shortly after the attack. Federal agents from the FBI and ATF joined local forces in targeted sweeps, leading to over 200 arrests in the ensuing weeks. Coristine’s case, in particular, galvanized public discourse, with conservative commentators like Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) labeling the initial response as insufficient and urging U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to push for federal charges. “If these charges had been brought in federal district court, the sentence would have been much more severe,” Lee posted on X, highlighting the jurisdictional limits of juvenile proceedings.

As the case progressed through the juvenile justice system, the two teens appeared in D.C. Superior Court last month, pleading guilty to reduced charges of simple assault. The boy faced additional counts of felony assault and robbery but entered an Alford plea, acknowledging the strength of the evidence while maintaining his innocence on some specifics. On October 14, 2025, Judge [Redacted for privacy] presided over the sentencing hearing, where the focus shifted to rehabilitation over incarceration—a core tenet of juvenile courts in the District.

The boy received 12 months of supervised probation, including mandatory counseling sessions, community service hours, and restrictions on unsupervised contact with peers involved in the incident. The girl, pleading to a single count of simple assault, was ordered to nine months of probation with similar conditions, plus a prohibition on entering D.C. except for school, work, or family-related reasons. Both were also barred from contacting each other or the victims, and required to undergo anger management and restorative justice programs. The judge emphasized the developmental stage of the offenders, noting, “The purpose of this court is to guide young people back to productive paths, not to warehouse them.”

Coristine participated virtually in the hearing, addressing the court and the defendants directly via web conference. In a measured statement, he expressed relief at the resolution while underscoring the lasting impact of the event. “I hope you can figure things out and be ready for the consequences,” he told the teens, according to court transcripts and media reports. He thanked the D.C. police for their rapid response and the judicial system for holding the pair accountable, though he stopped short of endorsing the leniency. In a follow-up interview with WUSA9, Coristine reflected on his recovery, mentioning ongoing therapy for the concussion and a newfound caution in his nighttime routines.

The sentencing has reignited debates over juvenile justice in high-crime urban areas. Advocates for reform, including the D.C. Justice Lab, praised the outcome as a balanced approach that prioritizes education and support over punishment, citing studies showing probation reduces recidivism rates by up to 20% for first-time offenders. “These kids are products of their environment—poverty, lack of access, systemic failures,” said a spokesperson for the group. Conversely, critics from law-and-order circles decried it as a “slap on the wrist,” with outlets like the Washington Examiner questioning whether such outcomes deter future offenses amid D.C.’s carjacking epidemic. The Daily Caller ran a piece labeling the probation “staggeringly light,” arguing it undermines public safety and emboldens youth groups.

Coristine’s personal story adds layers to the narrative. At just 19, he had already made waves in conservative tech circles, joining DOGE as one of its youngest hires in early 2025 to tackle bureaucratic redundancies in federal IT systems. His “Big Balls” handle, a tongue-in-cheek reference to his audacious online takes on government waste, caught Musk’s eye during a viral thread critiquing IRS inefficiencies. Post-attack, Coristine stepped back from public-facing roles but has since channeled his experience into advocacy, partnering with groups like the National Center for Victims of Crime to push for expanded victim support services. “This wasn’t just a random hit—it highlighted how vulnerable we all are,” he told the New York Daily News, advocating for community policing enhancements.

As D.C. continues its aggressive anti-crime push—now in its third month with measurable dips in robbery reports—the Coristine case serves as a flashpoint. Federal involvement has led to enhanced patrols in hotspots like Logan Circle, and Trump’s administration has touted early successes, including a 15% drop in juvenile arrests tied to carjackings. Yet, questions linger about equity in sentencing: Why probation for these teens when adult offenders in similar cases face years behind bars? Legal experts point to D.C.’s progressive juvenile code, enacted in 2004, which emphasizes diversion programs over detention for non-violent or first-offense scenarios.

For the two teens now under supervision, the road ahead involves weekly check-ins with probation officers, school enrollment mandates, and family counseling to address underlying factors like peer pressure and limited opportunities in their Maryland suburb. Their attorneys hailed the ruling as a “fresh start,” while prosecutors noted the plea deal’s efficiency in closing the chapter without a drawn-out trial. As the unnamed boy and girl navigate their terms, the community watches closely, hoping the system delivers on its rehabilitative promise.

Coristine’s resilience shines through in his post-sentencing comments: “Justice isn’t always about bars—sometimes it’s about change.” In a city forever marked by such stories, his words offer a measured note of optimism amid the ongoing quest for safer streets.