‘I’m Not the Same Person I Was,’ Says Shooting Defendant

By Lindsay Mutzman - July 15, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced a shooting defendant to time served, ordering him to be on probation for one year during a July 12 hearing. 

Stephon Darnell Williams, 32, was convicted April 22 of carrying a pistol without a license. A jury acquitted him of second-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, but convicted him of carrying a pistol without a license for the shooting of his 49-year-old father, Stephen Macgruder, on Sept. 11, 2020, on the 700 block of 51 Street, NE.  

At the hearing, prosecutors asked Judge Epstein to sentence Williams to 24 months of incarceration, stating that his father would still be here if it wasn’t for Williams having a gun. 

The prosecution mentioned that Williams, in the past, tested negative on his drug test when reporting to his parole officer. The prosecutor also noted that Williams has a history of mental health issues but failed to report to the mental health appointments set up for him.  

“I’m not the same person I was,” Williams said.

Judge Epstein said he believed that Williams isn’t a danger to the community and that this incident occurred because his father was abusive to him his whole life.  

Judge Epstein sentenced Williams to time served, and ordered him to participate in unsupervised probation. 

Williams was also ordered to register as a gun offender and pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crimes Fund. 

There are no further dates set.