A teenager pleaded guilty for a non-fatal shooting before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Sept. 19.
Ka’Raun Foster, 17, was originally charged with assault with intent to commit any other offense while armed, and first-degree burglary while armed for his involvement in a shooting on the 1200 block of 7th Street, NW, on March 29. A juvenile sustained injuries during the incident.
He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence in exchange for the prosecution dropping other charges and not seeking indictment on greater charges.
Foster is being tried as an adult under Title 16. That gives prosecutors flexibility about whether to charge juveniles as adults for certain serious crimes.
According to the prosecutor, the possession charge has a mandatory minimum sentence of five years, although Foster’s defense attorney, Megan Allburn, asked for a Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) study.
The YRA allows the opportunity for defendants who committed a crime when they were 25 or younger to have their records sealed once they complete their sentence. Additionally, being sentenced under the YRA means mandatory minimums do not apply.
Foster will also have to register as a gun offender during his term of supervised release and two years after.
The prosecutor said that they would have proven during trial that Foster went into an apartment during a birthday party and shot the victim in the stomach, shoulder and elbow in a bedroom.
Foster will be held pending sentencing.
Parties are set to reconvene on Dec. 12.
