Defendant Acquitted in Shooting After Teen Tryst

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A jury acquitted a shooting defendant of all charges after a two week-long trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Jan. 21.

Antoine Johnson, 28, was 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.

Johnson’s charges stemmed from his alleged involvement in shooting at a man and his son on I-695 southbound near exit 2B following a domestic dispute on the 1000 block of 5th street SE on July 20, 2023.

The prosecution claimed the shooting occurred after Johnson’s mother found her 14-year-old daughter in bed with a 17-year-old boy. An argument broke out between the two families following the romantic encounter and the boy and his father left the scene, allegedly pursued by Johnson.

Throughout the trial, the prosecution argued that a revenge motive, video surveillance footage, cell phone data, eyewitness descriptions of the shooter and a recorded statement from Johnson – during which he allegedly told his mother, “We ain’t doing no talking, ma. I’ve seen his face,” clearly implicated him as the shooter. The 14-year-old girl is Johnson’s half-sister.

Matthew Rist, Johnson’s attorney, countered by emphasizing ambiguities including the interpretation of Johnson’s statement, possible alternative suspects, inexactness of cell phone location data, and lack of corroborating physical evidence.

The jury agreed and Johnson was acquitted of all charges.

No further dates were set.