DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a shooting defendant to two-and-a-half years in prison on March 27 for shooting 26 times at his extended family members in a car.
Amonte Moody, 20, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for firing into a vehicle on the 1700 block of Independence Avenue, SE on April 22, 2024. Despite the car containing four individuals, no one sustained injuries.
In a victim impact statement, one victim said the situation was very sad, but Moody has “already endured enough.”
She told the court she hates how Moody has been painted as “a monster,” especially given how he was assaulted before the shooting and shot at the car in anger.
As a mother herself, the victim explained, she doesn’t want Moody to have his life taken away. She asked Judge Edelman to not just put him behind bars, but to provide services that could actually help him such as mental health counseling or services that would allow him to gain an education.
The victim emphasized that she feels Moody has already been held accountable in the two years he’s been incarcerated.
The prosecutor asked Judge Edelman to impose a sentence at the top of the sentencing guidelines. He acknowledged that Moody is young, but highlighted the seriousness of the crime. The prosecutor argued the only reason Moody didn’t hit anyone in the car was because bullet trajectories curve and he isn’t a sniper.
According to the prosecutor, Moody used a semi-automatic gun, meaning he had to pull the trigger 26 different times when shooting at the car.
The prosecutor claimed, after the police were called, Moody changed his hairstyle and clothes, indicating he made a conscious choice and knew what he did was wrong afterwards.
The prosecutor argued due to the serious nature of the crime, Moody shouldn’t be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), 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 sentencing flexibility.
Moody’s attorney, Kavya Naini, insisted Moody didn’t injure anyone because his intention wasn’t to harm. According to Naini, since Moody’s arrest, he has taken every opportunity he could to better himself and help the community. Everyday, she said, he independently volunteers to do things like counseling, classes, schooling, or debate, showing how support and guidance can go a long way.
“We are confident he will succeed in the community,” Naini said.
Anaya Thompson from the Public Defender Service (PDS) Office of Rehabilitation and Development told the judge that with the right support in place, Moody would continue to move forward. Thompson stressed the importance of community based interventions over the prison, arguing the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is not designed to provide individualized care.
Sending Moody to the BOP would cause “irreparable harm,” Molly Bunke, Moody’s other attorney, said. “There’s only so much growth you can do in a cage.”
Bunke argued Moody should be sentenced under the YRA to give him further opportunity for rehabilitation after his sentence.
“I know I made a mistake, but I’ve learned from it,” Moody told Judge Edelman. He urged the judge to “look at [him] as a whole person, not just the worst decision [he’s] ever made.”
Judge Edelman told Moody there is no minimizing what he did. The shooting was a “violent, terrifying, reckless act,” he said.
However, he agreed with the defense’s assertion that this shooting was out of character for Moody. Judge Edelman said that while this was a “spontaneous and impulsive act of extremely poor judgment,” Moody has had no interactions with the criminal justice system prior to this incident.
That as well as his conduct after his arrest, and his existing support system from friends and family, Judge Edelman ruled to sentence Moody under the YRA.
In a legal twist, the victim is advocating for Moody’s release, the crime was serious but resulted in no physical harm, and the defendant has no prior involvement with the criminal justice system.
The judge stated two years in prison was substantial punishment for Moody and he’s concerned that a lengthy period of incarceration would jeopardize any progress Moody has made.
Judge Edelman sentenced Moody to 18 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon and 12 months in prison for attempted assault with a dangerous weapon, followed by three years of supervised release and 18 months of probation.
The judge sentenced Moody to 72 months in prison, suspending all but 30 months, for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The sentence will be followed by 18 months of probation.
The sentences for assault with a dangerous weapon and attempted assault with a dangerous weapon will be consecutive while the sentence for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence will be concurrent.
Judge Edelman specified Moody’s probation wouldn’t be the “regular kind of probation.” Rather, it would be a check in with Judge Edelman every few months to help keep Moody accountable.
“I’m giving you this sentence because it’s the right thing to do for you, and more importantly it’s the right thing to do for the community,” the judge said.
Judge Edelman delayed Moody’s formal sentencing until May 1 to allow him time to participate in a debate at the DC Jail. Parties are scheduled to reconvene May 1 for Judge Edelman to issue the sentence.
