DC Superior Court Judge Errol Arthur denied release for a shooting defendant despite questions about the validity of evidence in a random shooting case during a status hearing on Feb. 17.
Christopher Warren, 42, is charged with aggravated assault while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a shooting that took place on the 1800 block of Q Street, SE on Aug. 20, 2024. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm along with bone fractures to his shoulder and the right side of his neck.
According to court documents, the victim and Warren were driving in separate cars when the victim allegedly heard three gunshots. The victim said he felt the glass of his vehicle break before his right arm went numb. Allegedly, there were two additional people in Warren’s vehicle at the time. Warren and the victim did not know each other, the alleged shooting appearing to be random.
During the hearing, the prosecution requested that Warren stay in jail. They argued that based on the random nature of the offense Warren would be a danger to the community if released.
The prosecution acknowledged Warren didn’t have a criminal history. However, the prosecutor explained the hold would give the parties more time to discuss issues in the case.
Emma Mlyniec, Warren’s attorney, stated there was nothing more Warren could have done to prove he’d be compliant during release. She stated that the case against Warren is completely circumstantial and called into question the strength of the prosecution’s evidence including three other DNA profiles that were found on the firearm, weakening the prosecution’s argument that Warren was the only owner of the gun and it’s evidentiary value in question.
She said the victim’s car was not preserved, there was no trajectory analysis done, no recovery of projectiles, and the footage of the car being processed was destroyed.
The defense also questioned the credibility of the victim, who was the sole eyewitness in the case, stating that the victim provided false statements regarding an attorney he talked to during the grand jury investigation.
Given what the defense called deficiencies on the prosecution’s, they asked for release on home confinement.
Nonetheless, Judge Arthur granted the prosecution’s request, declaring the defendant would remain in detention, stating that the randomness of the alleged attack made public safety a concern.
Parties are slated to reconvene on April 10.
