‘I Saw Him Cock the Shotgun Again, and I Knew, Okay, This Dude’s About to Kill Me,’ Victim Testifies

By Sam Chodorow [former] - May 14, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

The victim of a shooting testified before a jury in DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld’s courtroom on May 13. 

Marcedes Edmunds, 38, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, carrying a shotgun or rifle outside a home or business, destruction of property worth $1,000 or more, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition, for his alleged involvement in a shooting incident on the 4000 block of Haynes Street, NE, on May 1, 2019. One individual sustained gunshot wounds during the incident.

According to court documents, Edmunds and the victim got into a verbal altercation over a woman, causing Edmunds to retrieve a firearm from his car,  allegedly telling the victim “I’ll give you five seconds to get off my block,” before shooting.

Prosecutors called the victim to testify, who was escorted into the courtroom by US Marshals in a wheelchair due to paralysis from unrelated injuries. 

According to the victim, Edmunds became verbally aggressive during their interaction, telling the victim “you’re a b***h a** [n-word].”

The victim testified that he saw Edmunds leave the scene, and return with a shotgun.

“I’m frustrated now, cause I realize he had a weapon,” the victim said, adding he walked towards his car to avoid the situation. According to the victim, he was not in possession of a weapon at the time of the incident. 

“As I’m getting in, I hear a boom. I didn’t feel anything. I saw him cock the shotgun again, and I knew, okay, this dude’s boutta kill me this time.”

According to the victim, Edmunds continued to shoot at his vehicle as he drove away, damaging his door and striking his leg a second time. 

He testified that he drove to a fire station, where he sought medical attention and was transported to the Prince George’s Hospital, where he received further assistance. 

Afterward he needed to complete eight months of physical therapy following multiple surgeries to help repair the damage sustained in the shooting. 

Although he said he hadn’t consumed any narcotics on the day of the incident, the victim testified to using PCP and marijuana two days earlier.

Edmunds then took the stand. 

According to Edmunds, he had arrived at the liquor store two hours prior to the victim arriving, and talked to multiple people in the area. 

He testified that, upon arrival, the victim appeared agitated to everyone present. “He was hostile, he was buggin’, he was reaching for something,” he said.

According to the defendant, he didn’t own a car at the time of the shooting, contradicting multiple testimonies that he had retrieved a firearm from his vehicle.

“I never shot anybody in my life, in fact, I’ve been the victim of gun violence,”claimed Edmunds, insisting he didn’t have a firearm on the day of the incident. 

During cross examination, prosecutors displayed surveillance footage and asked Edmunds to identify himself. However, he was unable to do so. 

“If you tell me that’s me, that’s me, ma’am,” he told the prosecutor. 

Edmunds insisted he was never part of the altercation, but rather left with friends when they realized the victim was agitated and causing a scene. 

Prior to Edmunds’ testimony, prosecutors called the victim’s girlfriend to testify, though she wasn’t at the scene at the time of the shooting, having left shortly before. 

According to the girlfriend, the victim  called her and explained that he had just been shot.

Upon returning to the neighborhood, she claimed she found her boyfriend’s vehicle in front of the neighborhood fire station, where he had fled to in order to seek medical treatment. 

“There was blood pooled everywhere,” she said, stating she went to the hospital with him and stayed by his side as he was rendered aid.

“He was mad, he was upset, his emotions were all over the place,” she stated. 

During cross-examination, she claimed that, despite not being at the scene during the shooting, she was sure her boyfriend was involved in a dispute with the individuals that were present when she was there. 

Prosecutors called two detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  One of them testified that the victim had described the shooter as a tall, heavy-set man with facial hair.

The second detective was asked to confirm the victim’s reaction when he was shown still images from a surveillance video taken in a local liquor store. 

“When I showed him the photos, he became wide-eyed, and said, ‘Yes, that’s him, that’s the guy who shot me.’” However, he testified he didn’t present a photo array as part of the identification process. 

“It’s obvious this is my client,” defense attorney, Mark Rollins, said in spite of how Edmunds testified regarding the images and surveillance footage presented during trial. “We know that’s Edmunds because the victim identified him.” 

However, he argued that the jury should consider that the witnesses may have been responsible and Edmunds had simply been a bystander.  “I want you to use common sense,” said Rollins. 

“The evidence shows without a doubt that on May 1, 2019, Marcedes Edmunds got in an argument with the victim, and for reasons unknown, retrieved a shotgun, and shot him in the leg,” insisted the prosecution. 

The jury was sent to deliberate, and parties will reconvene when they reach a verdict.