Shooting Over Teen Sex Case Goes to Jury

By Jeff Levine - January 16, 2025
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

Lawyers argued about whether a statement made in a heated argument about a teen-age tryst was either a veiled threat or an effort to calm the volatile situation.  The dispute played out in closing arguments on Jan. 16 at the culmination of a week-long shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan. 

Antoine Johnson, 28, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.  Three other weapons- related charges were dropped by the prosecution on Jan. 15. 

The remaining counts stem from Johnson’s alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on May 21, 2023, on I-695 southbound near exit 2B. No injuries were reported from the incident. 

The precipitating factor was evidence that a 17-year-old boy was engaging in sex with a 14-year-old girl.   When the girl’s parents found out they became incensed and the confrontation continued as the father of the 17-year-old arrived and attempted to remove his son from the scene.  Meanwhile, police were called to quell the disturbance.  

According to the prosecution, Johnson’s mother alerted him to the situation because the 14-year-old girl is Johnson’ half-sister.

In a body-worn camera video, Johnson is heard saying, “We ain’t doing no talking, ma.  I’ve seen his face.”  

During a sequence of video surveillance clips shown to the jury, prosecutors say that Johnson’s white Malibu is seen tailing the older victim and his son as they attempted to get away in their Jeep SUV.  The episode culminates on I-695 near exit 2B when Johnson allegedly fired at least six shots into the victim’s car.  

A data analyst placed Johnson’s phone near the scene at the time of the incident. 

The 17-year-old provided police with a description of the shooter who said the suspect was a Black male with light colored skin, long dreadlocks, tattoos on both sides of his face, facial hair and wearing a white tank top.  A Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer said the features were similar to Johnson’s whom he knew from a previous encounter.

“You need look no farther than that man, right there,” said the prosecutor pointing to Johnson in the courtroom.  The alleged motive was retaliation for the 17-year-old’s sexual encounter with Johson’s underage half-sister.

Using additional data from Johnson’s cell phone, police say they were able to trace the white Malibu to a woman with whom Johnson was romantically involved.  

“All that tells you the shooter was Antoine Johnson,” said the prosecutor. “Take a good look at the evidence.  Use your common sense,”

For his summation, Johnson’s attorney, Matthew Rist, continued his assault on the prosecution’s case saying it was based solely on speculation.  “The government is grasping, reaching,” said Rist. 

Rist debunked the notion that Johnson was making a threat given the ambiguity of his recorded comment and may have been trying to break up the fight. 

“Where is the actual threat that they were going to get that M***** F*****,” asked Rist?

Rist also challenged the MPD’s identification of Johnson as being overly broad and applicable to many young Black men in the district.  Further, the 17-year-old, who originally identified Johnson as the shooter, failed to do so in court.  It’s possible, said Rist, that an individual who was part of the initial confrontation and was driving a white Bentley was a suspect. 

There was no significant physical evidence in the case, he said. 

A defense witness also challenged the accuracy of determining someone’s location using information from a cell phone.. “You have to be a rainman like Tom Cruise in the movies to make a calculation for cell site data,” said Rist. 

The prosecution acknowledged  the 17-year-old’s reluctant courtroom performance but told the jury to consider his earlier testimony. 

Judge Ryan turned the case over to the jury for deliberation.