Shooting Defendant Needs Time to Deliberate Plea Offer

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A shooting defendant told DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian he  needed more time to discuss his plea agreement with his lawyer in a Nov. 1 hearing.

Reginald Williams, 64, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and endangerment with a firearm for allegedly firing in the courtyard of his apartment building on July 27 on the unit block of Banner Lane, NW. 

According to court documents, Williams got into a physical altercation with an unknown man, left the scene, returned with a firearm and fired once. No one was injured in the incident. During a police search of Williams’ apartment on Aug. 29, three guns were found, two revolvers and one semi-automatic pistol.

During the hearing, Theodore Shaw, Williams’ attorney, informed the court of Williams’ acceptance of a plea offer. According to Shaw, the terms of the plea offer included pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and endangerment with a firearm, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.

Williams disagreed with the prosecution that the firearm used during the incident was a “semi-automatic” firearm, insisting he only ever used revolvers. 

Judge Christian explained that the court wanted to make sure that he understood the plea agreement and he knew what information was in the plea, so he rescheduled the hearing.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 26.