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By
Chelsea Campbell
, Alexandra Organa - June 17, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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A shooting defendant’s girlfriend was called by the defense to testify about the incident before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro on June 16.
Shaqunda Reed, 32, is charged with carrying a pistol without a license and carrying a dangerous weapon for her alleged involvement in a shooting that occurred on the 800 block of Florida Avenue, NW on March 2, 2024. No injuries were reported.
According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers responded to the scene for the report of a shooting, where they located evidence including cartridge casings inside a parking garage on Florida Avenue.
Defense attorney Sara Kopecki called Reed’s girlfriend to testify. She stated that she was present the day of the shooting. According to the witness, they had gone to a club, Unity Lounge, to celebrate a friend’s birthday. The witness noted that the club had extensive security before getting in, including physical patdowns and metal detectors.
Prior to the shooting, the witness alleged that they had decided to leave the club due to large crowds and chaos. She said that she was with Reed when they heard gunshots coming from a parking garage they had left their cars at prior to entering. Reed’s girlfriend said she had driven Reed’s Toyota Camry to the club that night because hers did not have air conditioning.
After hearing the gunshots, Reed’s girlfriend said, everyone that was with them ran into the garage to get their cars and leave because they could not tell where the shots were coming from. When she was able to make it back to the Camry, the witness stated, she noticed Reed being frisked by police. Shortly after, the witness said she was with Reed when a different officer searched her again.
After some of the chaos settled, the witness said, Reed allegedly left the scene while the witness could not because they blocked the parking garage off to secure the crime scene. Eventually all parties were able to leave the scene in the vehicles they arrived in.
The prosecution kept their cross examination brief, asking Reed’s girlfriend if she loved Reed and if she would, “do anything for her”. After the witness answered yes to both questions and clarified some of her testimony, the prosecution rested.
Parties are slated to reconvene on June 17.