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By
Adriana Marroquin
- January 10, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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Shooting
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Suspects
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On Jan. 8, a shooting victim, who was arrested under a material witness warrant, reluctantly testified in a trial before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.
Kenneth Davis, 45, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, two counts of assault with intent to kill against a minor while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that injured one individual on May 19, 2021, on the 1600 block of Eastern Avenue, NE.
The victim, who prosecutors claimed refused to show up from the very start of the trial, was arrested by US Marshals on Jan. 5 after prosecutors pleaded with Judge Brandt to bring her in. She spent the weekend at the DC Jail to ensure she would testify on Jan. 8.
When asked by prosecutors where she spent the weekend, the victim stated “in your hell hole,” referencing the DC Jail. Prosecutors asked why, to which she replied “I didn’t feel comfortable being here today,” claiming the prosecution did not help ensure her and her children’s safety after the incident.
In her testimony, the victim, who was shot in a road rage incident with her two underage children in the vehicle, stated multiple times that she did not want to be a part of the trial and was worried about her and her children’s safety.
Prosecutors asked her if anything unusual occurred on the day of the incident. “Nothing unusual, other than I got shot in broad daylight,” she replied sarcastically.
During her testimony, the victim stated that, at the time of the incident, she did not see the shooter’s face. Rather, she said, she was able to identify the shooter after repeatedly watching surveillance footage of the incident.
According to the victim, she turned on her turn signal to merge into the next lane when her vehicle’s safety system alerted her she was very near the shooter’s car. She claimed that the shooter exited his Maserati, walked towards her Lexus and, “He just started shooting”.
She insisted she never exchanged words or met with the individual who shot her. She testified that in order to ensure her and her children’s safety, she drove off, stopping only after she hit a light post at the intersection.
“Why the f**k would he do that,” she said in her grand jury testimony, which was discussed in open court.
She stated she was transported to a hospital for, “I guess treatment for a gunshot victim”.
“It caused mental havoc,” she insisted, when discussing how the incident has affected her life. “I was kidnapped from my home,” she proclaimed, referencing her arrest on Friday.
She went on to state the incident “traumatized [her son] even to this day… he acts out obscenely from this situation”. She went on to state that on July 4, 2021, her son became uncomfortable with the loud noises, when referring to fireworks, and added that the noises reminded him of gunshots.
The victim made it clear she did not want to continue her involvement with the case, going as far as to say “I don’t want to perjure myself and get sent back to jail,” during her testimony.
During cross examination, Marnitta King, Davis’ defense attorney, questioned her regarding her injury and how big of a hole any type of gun would make. “I don’t wanna know, I couldn’t tell you about a bullet,” she said, adding “Once I knew I was shot, I thought I was gonna die”.
Parties are slated to return Jan. 8.