During opening arguments Sept. 29, counsel disputed whether the shootings between a defendant and victim occurred over a woman.
Nigel Pulliam, 32, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with intent to commit robbery while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two counts of carrying a dangerous weapon outside of a home or business, and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition.
The charges are in connection to two cases. In one case, Pulliam is alleged to be involved in a non-fatal shooting on Aug. 29, 2022, on the 2000 block of Benning Road, NE. Pulliam is also alleged to have been involved in a non-fatal shooting on May 29, 2022.
The prosecution asserted that the shootings occurred over a woman Pulliam allegedly had a romantic relationship with. According to the prosecution, the woman began developing a relationship with the victim at the same time.
The prosecution said Pulliam tried to kill the victim twice, first in May and again in August.
In May, according to the prosecution, was during a meeting was held at a house owned by someone both the defendant and victim knew as a motherly figure. Pulliam allegedly became enraged, flashed a gun, and ordered the victim to get out of the house.
Prosecutors said the victim tried to escape in a car, but Pulliam followed him and shot into his car, injuring the victim’s left wrist.
Footage of another shooting in Aug. 29 depicted an individual, believed to be Pulliam, exiting a store and firing at a vehicle. The victim was not injured in this incident.
During the opening argument, the prosecutor said their case would show that shell casings left at the scene of the crime were consistent with a firearm that was recovered.
The prosecution argued the defendant made several threats toward the victim, which were recorded either by voice calls, text messages, or video footage.
Pulliam’s defense attorney, Sara Kopecki, argued that the incidents did not occur over a woman, but over drug dealing.
Kopecki also said Pulliam is not guilty of trying to kill the victim, explaining that Pulliam was threatened by the victim.
The victim is a drug dealer who was trying to expand their turf, Kopecki said. She also insisted that the victim was working with the cops to set Pulliam up.
The defense urged the jury to look at the surveillance footage closely, noting that Pulliam did not immediately follow the victim out of the store and did not directly fire at the car.
Kopecki stated that the footage represents an attempt to send a strong message like, “enough”.
Following the jury’s dismissal, the prosecution stated that they did not agree with the assertion that the victim was a drug dealer.
Counsel also argued over the admissibility of drugs found near the defendant when he was stopped by police.
The defense said the drugs were not attributable to Pulliam, while the prosecution said they were. A ruling about the admission of the drugs as evidence was not made.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 30 before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman.
