DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel sentenced a defendant who was acquitted of shooting charges by a jury but convicted on related possession offenses to three years of probation on March 27.
Daquan Toland, 25, was convicted by a jury on Oct. 1, 2025 on charges of carrying a weapon outside a home or business, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Charges are in connection with a non-fatal shooting incident that occurred at the intersection of M and 4th Streets, SW, Waterfront Metro Station on June 2, 2025. A victim was shot in the shoulder during the incident.
The prosecution asked Judge Israel to impose a sentence of two years imprisonment and three years supervised release for all charges. A stay away-order from the victim, along with the Waterfront Metro station was requested by prosecutors.
Judge Israel granted the stay-away order for the victim, but declined for the Metro station. The only grocery store in the area, Judge Israel stated, was near the Metro station.
Prosecutors stated that the injured victim was scared for their life during the shooting. According to prosecutors, a witness and her child have since moved out of the community after hearing the gun shots while playing in the park.
The prosecution stated that a second witness and her child were passed by Toland on an escalator in which he stated, “Don’t worry I’m not going to shoot you,” to the child.
The prosecution described the community as “a miserable place to live for some people.”
A sentence under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), was opposed by prosecution, which allows people under 25 who are convicted of certain crimes to have their convictions sealed after they successfully complete their sentence and potentially offers a sentence under the mandatory minimum.
Jessica Willis, a stand-in attorney for Toland, alleged that Toland was robbed and shot at first during the incident. Willis continued by stating that the shooting was “frightening for everyone involved.”
According to Willis, Toland has done everything the court has asked him to do pending sentencing, including having a stable workplace and housing. Judge Israel released Toland on Oct. 2, 2025, the day after the jury returned their verdict.
Willis used Judge Israel’s words from a previous hearing for another case that day in her argument stating, “If we put this person in jail now we are disrupting their progress.”
Willis argued for a total of six months incarceration, all suspended in favor of one year’s probation. In addition, Willis asked for a sentencing under the YRA.
“It was a dumb decision,” Toland stated during his apology for the incident. Toland stated that he now has a two-month-old son that he cares for.
Judge Israel sentenced Toland to two years imprisonment for carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, six months for possession of an unregistered firearm, and one year imprisonment for unlawful possession of ammunition. All time suspended, in favor of three years supervised probation. All sentences are to run concurrently.
Judge Israel noted that Toland always looked “concerned” during the trial and was taking the trial seriously.
Judge Israel did not sentence Toland under the YRA, due to a previous conviction under YRA before and this incident was deemed an escalation of seriousness by her.
Toland must register as a gun offender following his probation.
No further dates have been set in this case.
