DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee sentenced a shooting defendant to 30 months of incarceration at a sentencing hearing on June 2.
On March 28, Sean Butler, 29, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, endangerment with a firearm, felony destruction of property, and carrying a pistol without a license for his involvement in a shooting that occurred on May 6, 2024 on the 2000 block of Rhode Island Avenue, NE.
According to court documents, Butler shot 12 times at the trunk of an Uber vehicle. The driver was unharmed.
Matthew Rist, Butler’s attorney, and the prosecution agreed that Butler struggled with chronic mental health issues, having been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Over the course of his life, according to Rist, Butler reportedly checked himself into various mental health facilities.
Rist linked Butler’s history of mental health struggles to the incident, claiming that he acted on a perception of danger. Rist argued that, given his condition, Butler should be taken to a prison with a federal medical facility instead of a standard prison.
Rist noted the defendant’s positive relationship with his family and boxing community. Butler’s mother attended the hearing. The victim of the shooting did not appear in court.
The prosecution drew attention to Butler’s endangering the public and that he appeared conscious of his own guilt. During the hearing, the prosecution showed video footage of the incident, detailing how Butler created a “zone of danger” including construction workers and a woman with a stroller near the scene. The prosecutor also argued Butler was seen quickly fleeing the scene through a nearby apartment complex.
Judge Lee encouraged Butler to take more proactive steps to manage his mental health condition, advising him to take medication consistently and meet with a mental health professional. Such actions would not only benefit himself, but his community, according to Judge Lee.
The judge imposed a sentence of 30 months for each of the charges, which are set to run concurrently.
No further dates were set.
