A defendant accepted a plea deal for shooting at a police officer and 10-year-old child in a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on March 20.
Delvin Pollard, 31, was originally charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer while armed, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, eight counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction, carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or place of business, and destruction of property less than $1,000.
The charges stemmed from his involvement in a shooting on the 300 block of Hawaii Avenue, NE on Dec. 12, 2019. No injuries were reported.
At the hearing, Pollard accepted a deal from prosecutors that required him to plead guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison with three years of supervised release and will require Pollard to register as a gun offender.
As part of the agreement, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining 19 charges against Pollard and not oppose the sentences run concurrently.
The prosecutor said if the case proceeded to trial, evidence would show that Pollard opened fire with an AR Pistol in a parking lot, striking a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) cruiser and a car with a 10-year-old inside.
Prosecutors said Pollard’s fingerprint was found on a gun discarded near the scene and eyewitnesses identified Pollard as the shooter.
Pollard’s attorney, Mani Golzari, said that the incident resulted from Pollard’s early-stage schizoaffective disorder making him delusional and subject to mood swings, which was undiagnosed at the time.
“It was a clear case where mental health issues were at the root of this incident, and it was not treated because this incident is what triggered a diagnosis,” Golzari said.
Judge Ryan accepted the plea agreement and allowed Pollard to remain on release until sentencing as he did not consider him a danger to the community and had no escape history.
Judge Ryan encouraged Pollard to continue with mental health treatments “which seems to be providing him stability.”
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on June 5 for sentencing.
