Testimony Begins for Shooting Deemed a ‘Brazen Attack’

By Cameron Horne - October 23, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Prosecutors deemed an April shooting a “brazen attack,” during opening statements on Oct. 21, before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe.

Cornellius Ruffin, 41, is charged with assault with significant bodily injury while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior offense, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on April 12 on the 200 block of Bates Street, NW.

During opening statements the prosecution called the incident “a brazen attack in the middle of the day” describing how Ruffin allegedly fired multiple shots, hitting one victim in the leg, before placing the gun in a woman’s handbag and “casually bik[ing] away.”

Stephen LoGerfo, on behalf of Ruffin, asserted that his client “is not guilty” and that “no one is going to identify Mr. Ruffin as the shooter.”

Following opening statements, prosecutors called on multiple eyewitness who recalled hearing three or four shots, and described the shooter to be a man wearing a “black bomber jacket” with some sort of colorful design or embroidery on the back. 

Additionally, the witness stated the shooter “casually got on the bike” before riding west on Q Street. When speaking with police at the scene, the witness also helped canvas the area in an attempt to positively identify the shooter.

Another eyewitness testified they also heard the shots, and provided a similar description of the suspect. They added that, on the day of the incident, they provided the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with images of the suspect as they rode away from the scene. 

An additional eyewitness stated the suspect  “didn’t seem that hurried.” Furthermore, the witness was able to describe a female, later identified as Natalie Stokes, 33, who they alleged the suspect handed the firearm to after the shooting. The witness described Stokes as an African American woman wearing a pink hoodie around her waist. 

Prosecutors also called on an officer who displayed body-worn camera footage of conversations between the officer and the witnesses. In the footage, the officer can be heard providing a description of the two suspects over the radio to all officers in the area.

Trial is set to continue Oct. 22