At a jury trial on Jan. 29, DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson oversaw the testimony of six witnesses in a fatal shooting case, including that of the victim’s girlfriend who was present during the shooting.
Antonio Hawley, 22, is charged with first-degree premeditated 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 Oct. 6, 2021 fatal shooting of Aaron Wiggins, 26, on the 400 block of 13th Street, SE, after a recreational football game.
Prosecutors called Hawley’s best friend’s former girlfriend to testify. The witness drove Hawley and her then-boyfriend to and from the football game on the evening of Oct. 6, 2021.
The witness testified that Hawley would often hang out at her apartment in the months leading up to the incident. Prosecutors presented a screenshot of an Instagram post said to be Hawley in the witness’ apartment holding a firearm and wearing a crossbody Champion bag.
The witness confirmed that she had seen Hawley and her then-boyfriend hold a gun with a green light many times. This gun was often accompanied by the Champion bag, which defense attorney, Albert Amissah, alleged belonged to her ex-boyfriend. The witness denied this, insisting it belonged to Hawley.
Wiggins’ girlfriend, who was on the field with Wiggins when he was shot, gave an emotional testimony recalling the incident.
“I’m not okay,” she said after being asked how Wiggins’ death has affected her.
The witness said that while everyone, including Wiggins, was collecting their belongings and preparing to leave the field, she heard multiple gunshots. She immediately ran to her boyfriend and called 911, at which point she believes the shooter left with the rest of his football team.
The prosecution played recordings from the witness’s initial police interview, in which she described the person she saw shooting. She said the shooter was wearing a black ski mask that covered his face and head. She also described the shooter as around age 18 and of average height and build.
The prosecution also called a Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) detective who, at the time of the crime, was an officer with the bike unit. The officer responded to gunshot sounds heard on the night of the incident, and at her time of arrival, Wiggins was unconscious with several people gathered around him, including an off-duty detective and a friend of the victim. The witness and other observers made efforts to treat Wiggins’ injuries, but ultimately were unable to do so.
The witness reported that many of the people gathered around the victim were in shock and unwilling to speak with her. According to the detective, a witness described the shooter as a light skinned Black male that looked 15-to-16-years-old, wearing a white tank top.
Prosecutors also called an officer MPD’s K9 Unit who responded to the scene on the night of the incident. Accompanied by another officer, the witness testified he did a thorough walk-through of the location and found a dark piece of clothing that contained a ghost gun– a firearm that does not have a traceable serial number. The prosecution presented photographic evidence showing the witness’ discovery of these items.
Another MPD officer testified that Hawley did not have a license to carry a firearm in DC, and the gun was unregistered.
After dismissing the jury, the defense argued for a motion of judgement of acquittal due to lack of evidence for a first-degree murder charge. Judge Dayson determined that the prosecution had met their burden of proof, that a reasonable jury could convict Hawley of the charges, and denied the motion.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 2.
