DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson sentenced a defendant to 16 years of imprisonment on Jan. 6 for a murder that resulted from his shooting into a crowd of people.
James Outland, 27, and Bobby Gupton, 27, both pleaded guilty on April 4, 2025 to second-degree murder while armed for their involvement in the fatal shooting of 54-year-old Tavonayna Glenn on June 28, 2023 on the 700 block of 19th Street, NE. Glenn suffered one gunshot wound to her chest.
According to court documents, Outland, Gupton, and two additional unidentified suspects discharged their firearms into a crowd of people. Glenn was struck and killed with a bullet during the shooting.
Judge Dayson sentenced Gupton on Aug. 15, 2025 to 15 years in prison but delayed Outland’s sentencing because he requested to withdraw his guilty plea.
At the hearing, Judge Dayson confirmed with Outland that he no longer wished to withdraw his plea and wanted to proceed with sentencing.
The prosecutor requested a 24 year prison sentence, saying Outland’s actions caused “chaos, panic, and ultimately a tragedy.” They said the shooting could have killed 30 people because the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) recovered over 30 cartridge casings.
The prosecutor emphasized the dangerousness of “four armed gunmen spraying gunfire into a crowd of people.”
Additionally, the prosecutor said during Outland’s arrest in April 2024, MPD recovered a rifle-like firearm loaded with 47 rounds of ammunition. They asserted that the community narrowly avoided more murders the firearm could have caused.
Outland’s defense attorney, Howard McEachern, requested a 14 year sentence. McEachern asserted the prosecutor did not differentiate Outler from Gupton who received a lower sentence. Outland, unlike Gupton, had no prior criminal record, noted McEachern.
Judge Dayson asked the prosecutor why they believed Outler’s actions warranted a sentence higher than Gupton’s. The prosecutor said Outler’s conduct was “far more egregious” because he led the group in the video footage and possessed a rifle almost a year after the murder.
Outland addressed the court and apologized to the victim’s family and his own. He added that he’s a young father to three children and hoped to attend college after his incarceration.
McEachern also said Outland’s upbringing was unstable and his sister died four months prior to the shooting which caused him to spiral because she was his “rock.”
Judge Dayson noted Outland accepted responsibility and lacked adult convictions but said his actions “killed a random person” and could have injured more people. The judge sentenced Outland to 16 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Outland will be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release.
After Judge Dayson announced the sentence, McEachern expressed his dissatisfaction with the evidence that Outland’s conduct differed from Gupton’s. The prosecutor said video evidence showed Outland gathering the suspects for the shooting. Judge Dayson concluded that regardless of any difference in Outland’s role, her sentence would remain higher due to his later rifle possession.
No future dates were scheduled.
