‘I’m Sorry,’ Shooting Defendant Says as He’s Sentenced to 18 Months

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz sentenced a shooting defendant to 18 months of incarceration on Aug. 9.

Raymond Robinson, 43, accepted an offer on May 20 to plead guilty to assault with significant bodily injury and carrying a pistol without a license for his involvement in a shooting that injured one individual. The incident occurred on Feb. 10, on the 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

At the hearing, the prosecutor requested Judge Leibovitz sentence Robinson to 19 months, which was the limit the parties agreed for the sentencing through the deal.

The prosecutor stated they were asking for that sentence because Robinson was “involved firing a firearm at the victim after a scuffle.”

Nikki Lotze, Robinson’s defense attorney, disagreed with the prosecutor’s request, stating that Robinson had “been on a path to change his life around” before the incident occurred. She added he had been sober for one year before he reconnected with the victim and started using phencyclidine (PCP).

According to Lotze, the victim provided contradicting statements to the police, claiming Robinson was a stranger that followed him into his apartment and shot him. However, Lotze stated, the victim and Robinson had an encounter the night before, in which the victim allegedly threatened Robinson with a machete and robbed him of his watch.

“A 10 month sentence is appropriate in this case,” Lotze insisted.

“I’m sorry for my actions,” Robinson told the court, adding that the victim had been like a nephew to him and he had attempted to be there for him as he was experiencing a loved one’s loss.

“I was really trying to do right, but I slipped up,” Robinson told Judge Leibovitz, adding “I’m gonna stay away from negative people.”

Judge Leibovitz imposed a sentence of 18 months for each charge, ordering the sentences run concurrently to each other. Robinson is also required to register as a gun offender when released.

No further dates were set.