Surviving Victims Testify in Homicide, Mass Shooting Trial

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Two victims testified on Oct. 22 about their persistent fear and anxiety following a mass shooting, before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Juan Peterson, 33, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, three counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of accessory after the fact while armed, and second-degree cruelty to children.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Lester Howard on May 15, 2021, that left three others injured on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

According to court documents, Peterson allegedly aided and abetted in a shooting as the getaway driver and provided the shooter with the firearm. The shooter remains unidentified and the police is still searching for them.

During their opening arguments, the prosecution argued that Peterson knew the “trigger man,” asserting that “Peterson followed the plan… he arrives, he provides, he drives” as the shooter was allegedly waiting for Peterson to arrive at the scene to commit the crime.

They stated that Peterson’s car “stop(ped) not at the light” but instead as close as possible to the shooter to obtain the weapon from the glovebox of the suspect vehicle. The prosecution claimed the passenger side door was left unlocked for the shooter to get in, and Peterson pulled away without any hesitation.

During his opening statements, Peterson’s attorney, Daniel Kovler, claimed Peterson knew the shooter and his violent reputation, thus the defendant feared if he did not participate, he would be killed.

According to Kovler, Peterson was doing “what any reasonable person would do” to live another day. Kovler insisted to jurors that Peterson is “innocent of every charge he is facing” regardless of his previous convictions of dealing marijuana and selling firearms.

One of the victims took the stand and described her experience in the shooting, stating she “fell to the ground… couldn’t get back up.” She described how she still endures pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms from the incident.

Another victim, seen on security footage with her then one-year-old child, appeared reluctant to remove her face mask before testifying, she screamed adamantly that she “don’t remember nothing from that day.”

During cross-examination, Kovler asked the witness if she were anxious about her testimony’s being viewed as cooperating with law enforcement. The victim could not provide a direct answer.

The first police officer to respond also testified, stating they were stationed nearby to provide “high visibility” due to the high crime rate in the area.

The prosecution played body-worn camera footage which depicted the officer rushing to Howard before turning to provide first aid to another victim. The officer testified Howard had already passed when he arrived.

Another eyewitness testified that while driving the behind the suspect vehicle, it “seem(ed) to stop short of the traffic light”, and that the passenger side door of the car appeared to be unlocked as the shooter got in. The witness also confirmed making a 911 call where providing an Ohio license plate number to police.

The prosecution presented stipulated photos of the suspect vehicle when it was found and searched about ten days after the incident. The vehicle had a Delaware temporary tag displayed, but an Ohio license plate only one digit different from the plate provided in the 911 call that was found in the trunk.

Trial is set to continue on Oct. 23.