In Sentencing, Judge States Community Unsafe if Defendant Released

By Lexie Manning [former] - October 11, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

During an Oct. 6 hearing, DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld sentenced a non-fatal shooting defendant to six years in prison. 

Vincent Williams, 32, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon against a minor, unlawful possession of a firearm, and threat to kidnap or injure a person for his alleged role in a non-fatal shooting on Nov. 17, 2022. The shooting occurred on the 4000 block of 8th Street, SE, and left two victims, one being a minor, suffering from non-life-threatening injuries.

On June 15, Williams accepted an offer from the prosecution to plead guilty to assault with intent to commit robbery and unlawful possession, with a prior conviction of a firearm, in exchange for dismissing all other charges for this and another pending case.

Before sentencing, the prosecution played surveillance video of the incident depicting Williams entering a metro bus and shooting a victim in close range. 

The prosecution urged the judge to consider these are Williams’ third and fourth convictions relating to firearm possession and cited this incident as an “escalation of the defendant’s behavior from previous convictions.” The prosecutor also emphasized the defendant has had past issues with compliance upon release. 

Before asking for a lighter sentence, Williams’ attorney, John Harvey III, explained that he is “ready to turn his life around” for the sake of his family and young daughter. 

In a short statement, Williams expressed remorse and apologized to the victims. He explained that he was under the influence of drugs during the incident and  “reacted for my own safety.”

In response to Williams, Judge Hertzfeld urged him to “imagine if it had been your little girl on that bus.” 

Before announcing her decision, the judge stated “I don’t think the community is safe if I put you back in it”. 

Judge Hertzfeld sentenced Williams to 4 years for assault with intent to commit robbery, with a concurrent sentence of 32 months for unlawful possession of a firearm. These charges will run consecutively to an additional charge, carrying a pistol without a license, for which he received 32 months. 

After his prison term, Williams will be on supervised release for a total of six years and will have to register as a gun offender once released.