A friend of a homicide defendant told police he was responsible for the incident in a jury trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Jan. 22.
Antonio Hawley, 23, was charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Aaron Wiggins, 26, on Oct. 6, 2021. The incident occurred on the 400 block of 13th Street, SE.
During the hearing, prosecutors called on an eyewitness, a close friend with Hawley who claimed responsibility for Wiggins’ death, stating, “It was something that wasn’t supposed to happen.”
The witness, who was also the owner of the weapon allegedly used in the murder, said the events of the October night “ruined everything in [his] life” and that “if [he] could go back in time and change it,” he would.
Police suspected Hawley was the shooter prior to their meeting with the witness, and pressed the witness during an interview. While he testified he initially attempted to take responsibility for the incident with detectives, the witness retracted the self-incriminating statements, claiming Hawley was indeed the shooter.
The witness claimed he was “feeling guilty for snitching” on Hawley. According to Julie Swaney, Hawley’s attorney, the witness was granted immunity from a charge of carrying a pistol without a license for his compliance during questioning with officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The eyewitness also testified that a mutual friend of his and Hawley had asked to buy the suspected murder weapon from him.
Prosecutors also called the other friend to testify regarding his relationship with Hawley and the eyewitness, and his knowledge of the gun.
The individual claimed he saw the bag containing the weapon multiple times around the residence of his partner at the time, where he and defendant visited frequently, but didn’t know the weapon was stored there. He also claimed to seeing the bag carried by Hawley and the eyewitness who claimed blame at different times.
Swaney questioned him about his alleged desire to purchase the weapon, which the eyewitness had asserted in earlier testimony but then denied it.
Following the witnesses’ testimonies, prosecutors called the medical examiner who performed Wiggins’ autopsy and ruled the manner of death a homicide, and stated the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds.
Parties are slated to reconvene Jan. 26.
