Judge Releases Shooting Defendant Due to Trial Delay

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DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow released July 9 a shooting defendant and denied a motion to dismiss the case after the prosecution was unable to locate a witness, which prompted further delay in the trial.

James Guillory, 24, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, and carrying a pistol without a license for allegedly shooting and injuring two individuals on June 15, 2023 on the 4600 block of Hillside Road, SE.

Judge Pasichow denied the prosecution’s request to delay the trial by another day to find the witness, stating that the motion to issue the material witness warrant should have been requested weeks ago.

The trial, which was slated to begin arguments on July 8 was moved back one day to allow the prosecution to find the witness.

Guillory’s defense attorney, Varsha Govindaraju, argued that because of the delays and the failure to locate the witness, the case should be dismissed. The motion to dismiss was denied after an objection from the prosecution.

Judge Pasichow released the defendant under 24-hour home confinement and GPS monitoring. A stay away order from the two victims was also issued.

According to court documents, a male victim was shot in his upper right thigh and a female victim was shot in her nose during the incident. A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective presented a photo array to the female victim and she immediately identified Guillory as the shooter in a photograph.

Parties are slated to return for trial on July 16.