Defendant Waives Right to Independent DNA Testing in Mass Shooting Case

By Adriana Marroquin - March 17, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On March 16, a defendant charged for a multi-victim non-fatal shooting waived his right to have DNA evidence tested at a laboratory of his choice. 

Ronell Offutt, 34, allegedly shot at multiple people at a bus stop in Southeast DC on Feb. 4, 2019, injuring five individuals, including a 5-year-old girl. All victims recovered from their injuries. 

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan advised the defendant that he had the right to go through with independent DNA testing for evidence that the prosecution had acquired for the case. 

The defendant alerted the judge that, after consideration, he was waiving his right to independent testing. 

According to court documents, on Feb. 4, 2019, there were eight to ten gunshots at a bus stop on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. Allegedly, Offutt had gone to the bus stop seeking retaliation from four males who had attacked him and his family earlier in the day. 

In the court documents, the officer noted that whatever the altercation was had possibly not ended and decided to take a picture of the individual that was later identified as the alleged shooter. The individual in the image was identified as Offutt. 

Counsel for both parties agreed on an April 2024 trial date. 

They’re expected back in court for a status hearing on Sept. 13.