Juvenile Defendant Pleads Guilty to Two Shooting Incidents

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On Oct. 18, a juvenile defendant charged in connection to two shootings accepted a plea deal in front of DC Superior Court Judge Robert Salerno.

The juvenile, a 17-year-old male, was arrested on Sept. 15 for his involvement in two separate shooting incidents.

According to prosecutors, the defendant fired a gun into the air on Feb. 22, on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE. There were no reported injuries. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were able to identify the juvenile as the shooter from surveillance footage.

On June 9, the defendant fired a gun at a vehicle that was exiting a parking lot on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. The driver, a woman, suffered from a life-threatening gunshot wound to her back. MPD officers identified the defendant as the shooter from a still-shot that was recovered from surveillance footage that depicted the incident.

He was arrested on Sept. 15 and charged with several counts, including assault with intent to kill.

He accepted a deal that required him to plead guilty to felony assault, two misdemeanor counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two misdemeanor counts of possession of unregistered ammunition, and two misdemeanor counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm, for his involvement in both incidents. He is required to pay $1,200 in restitution for the June 9 incident.

Prosecutors agreed they would only seek commitment for the charges until he is 19 years old.

Following his guilty plea, the defense attorney requested the defendant be released to a shelter house, stating that his family has enrolled him in a virtual school program, and that his family is “deeply committed in supporting him in the next stage”.

She argued that his release would give him an opportunity to show he can do well in the community and is committed to self-improvement. She requested 24 hour confinement at the shelter and GPS monitoring.

Prosecutors opposed the defense’s request, stating that the matters involved a firearm being shot twice, and he was nowhere to be found for three months between his alleged attempt to turn himself in and his actual arrest date.

The defense attorney argued the juvenile initially tried to surrender but was turned away by police.

The defendant alleged that, before his arrest, he injured his foot by jumping out of a window because MPD officers had arrived to serve a search warrant at a location where he was at the time, and he got scared because he’s “seen what they do to Black kids”.

Judge Salerno denied the defense’s request for release, stating that he admitted his guilt and remains a danger to the community and a flight risk.

The defense attorney asked what Judge Salerno would need to see at the disposition hearing to help the release argument, which Judge Salerno rebuffed saying he’s unable to tell the defendant exactly what to do to be released.

Parties are expected back for a disposition hearing Nov. 17.