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By
Rhiannon Little [former]
- August 4, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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On Aug. 4, DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park sentenced a defendant to sixty six months imprisonment for his involvement in a 2023 shooting with another 18 months running concurrently.
Alex Barry, 20, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm for his role in a shooting that occurred on March 9 on the 700 block of O Street, NW. At the time of the incident, Barry was on supervised release with a court-ordered GPS tracking device that reportedly placed him at the scene.
During the proceeding, the prosecution discussed the defendant’s dangerousness and disregard for human life as well as the extensive injuries to the female shooting victim. They asked Judge Park to give Barry consecutive sentences of 66 months imprisonment for the assault with a dangerous weapon charge and 12 months for the unlawful possession charge.
Barry’s defense attorney, Everald Thompson, responded saying his client accepted responsibility for the crime immediately even though he says he’s not the one who pulled the trigger.
The defense also said Barry has post-traumatic stress disorder and needs counseling, having witnessed the father’s shooting when Barry was six-years-old. They proposed a sentence of 36 months for assault with a dangerous weapon, suspending all but 24 months and running concurrently with the sentence for unlawful possession.
Barry spoke before the Court, apologizing to the victim and his community. He said he hopes to get his GED and start a business after he is released.
Judge Park responded by saying the defendant has always been very respectful and his ability to write a letter to the court citing other cases speaks well to his future. However, he said the facts of this case are “about as egregious as assault with a dangerous weapon can get.”
Judge Park sentenced Barry to 66 months imprisonment for the assault charge and three years supervised release, as well as 18 months for the unlawful possession charge also with three years supervised release. The sentences for both charges are to run concurrently.
Barry will have to register as a gun offender following his release and pay $150 pursuant to the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation Act within the next seven years.