‘Shooting Was Unprovoked,’ Prosecution Says During Closing Statements in Shooting Trial

By Sonia Vazquez [former] - August 7, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects |

A defense attorney said even though his client ran away from police after a shooting, it’s not a sign of guilt in closing arguments before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Aug. 6. 

Deon Cannon, 29, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, possession of an unregistered firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business, unlawful possession of ammunition and eight counts of destruction of property of less than $1000.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in an incident on Sept. 5, 2021, on the 2700 block of Terrace Road, SE. There were no reported injuries.

According to court documents, video surveillance footage from the scene shows an individual, later identified as Cannon, shooting multiple times at two victims, an adult male and his nine-year-old son, but missing them. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene and arrested him.

“Twenty-nine feet,” prosecutors stated, is how far away Cannon was from the victims when he shot at them. They recapped the nine-year-old’s testimony, in which he said he was walking to his grandmother’s home with his dad when an individual shot at them. He recalled he may have been hit by gunfire, mentioning a scar on his ankle, “that was not there before.”

The prosecution argued the surveillance video suggests Cannon was waiting for his victims to walk past before he started shooting. According to the prosecution, the victim shot back at Cannon, and something “a little more subtle” can be seen in the footage, which they identified as a second gunman also shooting toward the victim. 

Cannon is “not worried about friendly fire,” the prosecutors claimed, adding he is not shown hiding from this second gunman but only from the victim’s line of fire. 

The prosecution went on to say this was not a conflict, as “shooting was unprovoked.” There was “disregard” for the victim’s son’s presence, and insisted that Cannon “fired those rounds regardless.”

“The intention was to kill that day,” the prosecution insisted, adding that Cannon ran towards the victims with his gun. 

The prosecution argued trials are like puzzles, stating in this case,  “It is clear what the picture shows and that is [guilt].”

However, Jonathan Lanyi, Cannon’s defense attorney, argued the prosecution has “nothing to prove” that Cannon was the perpetrator.

Lanyi acknowledged Cannon ran away from the scene because he did not want to be considered a suspect. However, Lanyi stated, when officers told Cannon to stop, he did. 

Lanyi pointed out Cannon wasn’t clearly identified, so no one can say he was the shooter, and the nine-year-old couldn’t say what the shooter was wearing.

The lawyer argued that since there are questions about Cannon’s whereabouts during the shooting as well as a lack of credible identification, the jury should conclude there is reasonable doubt Cannon committed the crime.

The jury will begin deliberations on Aug.7.