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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- November 12, 2024
Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Suspects
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The trial began on Nov 5 for an alleged shooting defendant before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo–the case was previously tried in Aug. and ended in a mistrial.
Andrew Parsons, 29, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and a felony charge of carrying a dangerous weapon. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident that occurred on June 26, 2023, on the 800 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
The prosecution showed security footage where Parsons allegedly got into an altercation with the victim outside of their apartment complex. In the footage, an individual, later identified as Parsons left and then returned with a gun, shooting at the victim ten times as he ran away. A forensic scientist who was there as an expert witness testified to finding ten bullet casings at the scene.
Prosecutors called on a Special Police Officer (SPO) who was on duty that night and testified to hearing gunshots. She reviewed security footage, where she saw the shooting occur. She recorded this on her phone. She identified Parsons as the shooter in the video, saying she could tell by his distinctive black coat and limp caused by a leg deformity.
During cross-examination, Darryl Daniels, one of the defense attorneys, questioned why only three camera angles were preserved when multiple views were available.
She first said she provided five, not three, but after reviewing previous testimony, she agreed it was three. She testified that the three angles showed the whole crime and that the others weren’t necessary.
According to the SPO, there were other individuals at the scene, including two other men and the victim’s girlfriend– none of them spoke with police.
The identification stems solely from the SPO, who wasn’t present during the shooting. A later discrepancy came up when she testified that she was on duty that night with another SPO that testified.
The second SPO testified that he was off duty that night but learned of the incident through a company group chat where the first SPO shared her recordings.
The defense questioned whether his identification of Parsons was because of his own experience or because the first SPO initially made it. He paused and finally answered that it was his own, but he admitted that all he saw and learned was from her.
An officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified about recovering a Maryland ID with an apparent bullet hole from the apartment where the victim was found.
The trial will continue Nov. 6 with additional witness testimony and closing arguments.