Imposing 25 Year Sentence, Judge Says ‘Stupid’ Fails to Characterize Murder Defendant’s Actions

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DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced a defendant to 25 years to reflect the seriousness of the crime, six years after the victim’s death in a hearing on Aug. 23.

Hahqwon Beale, 25, was convicted of first-degree murder while armed, two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a prior convict, and armed carjacking, for his involvement in a carjacking and shooting incident.

The shooting, which killed 43-year-old George Johnson, and injured another individual occurred on May 7, 2018, on the 800 block of Oglethorpe Street, NE.

Hours later, a pizza delivery man was carjacked and robbed of more than $300 at gunpoint on the 400 block of Farragut Street, NW.

A victim impact statement was read of a family member who said that Beale had no regard for human life since he shot into a crowd of people and said Johnson’s mother died from the circumstances being “too stressful to go on.”

“George won’t be here to see his daughter walk across the stage and graduate. He told her he’d walk with her on the stage. I think you ruined your life by committing this crime,” the statement said.

Prosecutors played audio that showed Beale boasting his actions.

“I’m not even mad at myself, I’m proud. When I go back they’re gonna remember me,” Beale said in the audio.

Julie Swaney, Beale’s defense attorney, said Beale grew up without stable environment with his father incarcerated and his mother in and out of jail, and that it hasn’t been easy for someone who didn’t attend a lot of school. Swaney asked for Beale to be sentenced to 21 years. Swaney described Beale’s actions as senseless, stupid and horrific.

“I don’t think stupid begins to capture it,” Judge Epstein said.

Judge Epstein categorized the incident as a mass shooting because of the 22 casings on site, plus vehicles and houses being damaged and one other injured person.

He said there’s a reason that carjacking sentencing carries such hefty terms. He added that the two convictions for not showing up to court previously show his lack of care about rules.

“He just didn’t care about the rules and didn’t want to be held accountable for his actions,” Judge Epstein said.

No further dates were set.