A responding officer testified he ran towards “multiple semi-automatic gunshots,” but the defense challenged the effectiveness of the police response. The exchange came during a shooting trial on June 11, before DC Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro.
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.
Prosecutors presented body-worn camera (BWC) footage from a responding officer, who said he began sprinting towards the scene after hearing multiple gunshots.
The officer said he stopped to check on bystanders in the area to make sure they had not been injured. He testified he came across Reed at the scene but did not stop her, seeing no signs she was injured or carrying a weapon.
Instead, he continued investigating the area for injured parties or signs of a shooter.
Sara Kopecki, Reed’s attorney, attempted to impeach to officer’s testimony citing several alleged disciplinary actions against him in 2023, 2024 and 2025 for use of force and improper use of a camera–to which he had little opportunity to respond.
The prosecution also called on another officer who stopped Reed later that night after a call to look for a suspect wearing a green jacket. The officer verified it was Reed who he saw that night when asked to identify her in court.
Kopecki challenged the officer with a barrage of questions suggesting he could have been preoccupied during the investigation.
“Did you frisk yourself,” she asked? There was amusement in the courtroom when the officer said he couldn’t recall.
In fact, Kopecki told Judge Di Toro that she would like to use the officer as a defense witness and the judge complied.
The prosecution brought in another officer, who works in forensics, to report that the empty shells at the scene were likely tied to the gun at the center of the case which they’ve linked to Reed.
Parties are slated to reconvene June 12.
