Shooting Defendant Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing

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On Sept. 18, a shooting defendant waived his right to have a preliminary hearing in DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond’s courtroom.

Rashid Shabazz, 25, is charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict for his alleged involvement in multiple shootings on March 4 on the 200 and 300 block of 50th Street NE.

According to court documents, there were reports of three different shooting incidents during which officers got multiple calls describing the shooter, later identified as Shabazz, standing in the street, firing a gun and screaming. A few minutes after officers got the third call they located Shabazz who fit the suspect’s description.

During the hearing, Erin Scialpi, Shabazz’s defense attorney, alerted the court he planned to waive his right to a preliminary hearing.

The defense requested for this case to be handled by DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Pasichow, since she is handling two other matters involving the defendant.

Parties are set to reconvene on Sept. 20.