Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.
By
Michelle Roldan
, Amber Fienagha - February 6, 2025
Daily Stories
|
Non-Fatal Shooting
|
Shooting
|
Suspects
|
A shooting victim told a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt she and one of the defendants knew each other well before the incident, during a trial hearing on Feb. 4.
Daniel Cary, 33, and Chantel Stewart, 30, are charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and threat to kidnap or injure a person for their alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 4000 block of 1st Street, SE on July 22, 2020. At the scene, the victim suffered a collapsed lung caused by a gunshot wound to the back.
Prosecutors called on the victim, who testified she and Cary had known each other for years, and added they had been roommates. “We had an okay relationship,” said the victim.
The victim testified Stewart would sometimes pick up the victim’s child, as long as she was given permission by the victim. On the day of the incident, the victim testified, that she had not given Stewart permission to take her child, but she did so anyway. She realized Stewart picked her kid up while they were on a phone call, which caused the confrontation to escalate.
The victim testified Stewart threatened her, telling her she would get her boyfriend to kill her. When they met so the victim could get her child back, Cary allegedly asked “Where’s your n-word.” The witness said she took that as Cary wanting to fight her boyfriend.
She remembered a fight between her and Stewart as well as the police showing up, but in fear of being arrested, she denied it. As she tried to drive away, the victim testified, she heard shots and realized she had been wounded in the back allegedly by Cary who was in the passenger seat of Stewart’s car.
Due to scheduling conflicts, the victim will finish her testimony on Feb. 5.
Prosecutors called on a special agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), who testified he completed a phone analysis in connection to the co-defendants’ cellular devices on the day of the shooting.
According to the agent, Stewart’s and Cary’s phones were in the general area of the shooting at the time of the incident, and the analysis showed them leaving the area moments after the shooting.
Stewart’s attorney, Jesse Winograd, said the data was vague, that there was no way to know who had the phone, and the agent could not specifically state the defendants were at the exact location of the shooting.
Cary’s defense attorney, Alvin Thomas, added the agent could not necessarily prove that the defendants’ phones were together, but rather could only show they made similar movements.
Prosecutors also called on the lead detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), who testified he responded to the scene and assisted with the retrieval of surveillance footage of the incident.
According to the detective, a video, shown to the jury, depicted two vehicles speeding away from the scene after what sounded like a gunshot. The detective testified the footage was recovered from a resident’s Ring camera on the 4000 block of 1st Street, SE.
A witness from the United States Secret Service testified he located the victim’s vehicle after it crashed into the entrance of the United Medical Center (UMC) on the 1300 block of Southern Avenue, SE.
According to the witness, the victim’s vehicle had bullet damage on the rear driver’s side of the vehicle.
He entered the hospital and recovered a tank top from the victim – which had a bullet fragment on it. He also responded to the original crime scene and recovered four shell casings.
The trial will resume on Feb. 5.