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By
Leah Meyer
- March 18, 2025
Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Shooting
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Suspects
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A shooting defendant testified she was only attempting to avoid conflict in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Carmen Mclean on March 17.
Ni’Jhae Curry, 26, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, endangerment with a firearm, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a prohibited weapon for her alleged involvement in a shooting on Oct. 17, 2023 on the 900 block of Sycamore Drive, SE. No injuries were reported.
In her testimony, Curry claimed she had a “very odd initial relationship” with the victim when they first met working at the DC Department of Employment Services (DES), and their feelings toward each other were “very up and down.”
According to Curry, the falling out between the two occurred when Curry was giving the victim a ride home from work. They stopped by a friend of the victim’s to buy marijuana and transaction made her at ease with the victim. Meanwhile, Curry learned that the victim has “blocked” incoming calls from her phone and social media accounts, thereby elevating her concern.
That’s when Curry says the victim started to spread rumors about her at work.
Curry testified that seven months before the shooting, the victim harassed her in their workplace break room to the point that other individuals had to hold her back and cover her mouth. A witness present on that day was called by the defense, and she testified that Curry was standing in the corner and not escalating the situation.
Curry told the jury that she wrote multiple complains to her supervisors at DES, and the victim was finally fired from the job one month before the incident. She stated that the victim “escalated every time she could, she aggressed at me.”
On the date of the incident, Curry and the victim crossed paths in their apartment building. and began to fight in the hallway.
Curry’s neighbor witnessed the fight and was called by the defense. He testified that it was “just a catfight” and that it “didn’t seem serious” to him. He also stated that he didn’t hear mention of any guns during the fight, but Curry claimed that the victim was threatening to shoot her.
Curry stated that after the fight, she went into her apartment despite feeling “unsafe.” She considered calling 911, but decided against it because “they take forever to show up”. Hallway video footage shows Curry leaving her apartment allegedly with a nine millimeter handgun.
She claimed that she was “threatened with bodily harm” and knew the victim would “come back for her.”
When Curry walked out, she allegedly saw the victim “running towards her with something black in her hand,” and fired a “warning” shot into the air. However, the victim did not have a firearm.
Curry stated “I didn’t want to hit her or anything else. I just wanted her to leave”.
During cross-examination, prosecutors inquired as to why Curry did not call the police if she felt extremely in danger. Curry responded by stating “I was in a mode of survival,” and “I never meant to hurt anyone.”
Curry’s testimony will continue March 18.