In Switch, Suspect Testifies He Shot Victim in Self-Defense

By Jenna Lee - September 19, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

Prosecutors say a shooting defendant changed his story in court testimony from his initial police interview, now claiming self-defense before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on Sept. 19. 

Adrian Lee, 49, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict.

The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident on April 18, 2023, on the 700 block of Gresham Place, NW, that left one person injured.

In his testimony, Lee said he got a call from his wife saying she’d had a car accident and needed him to bring her insurance car and driver’s license. He said when he went to the scene, a bigger man and a woman were in a Tesla talking to his wife. According to Lee, the man and woman quickly got aggressive and he thought he saw a gun in the man’s waistband.

“I need to get my wife out of here,” Lee said is what he thought at the moment. 

According to Lee, the man reached for him, so he took off running and the man and woman in the Tesla started chasing him down the street. He said he heard the woman scream out of the car “Now I’m boutta dog you,” which he took to mean she was going to attack him.

Lee testified he ran to his house and got a gun from his friend living on the street. He said his pursuer and woman got out of the car and approached his house. Lee stated he told them to leave, and thought he saw the man reach in his waistband, so he fired a shot. 

“I felt threatened and I was afraid,” Lee told the jury. 

Lee said he lied to detectives when he was arrested a year after the incident, saying he didn’t know who shot the man. According to Lee, he lied because he wanted to be able to come home to his kids and thought the police would not believe his self defense story.

“I never had a good interaction with the police in my life,” Lee said and affirmed he was telling the truth in court.

Lee said he left DC to go to Florida after the shooting, not to evade the police, but avoid retaliation for the shooting. He said he stayed in Florida longer than he planned because his car broke down. 

On cross examination, Lee said he did not tell detectives when he was arrested the man and woman involved in the accident threatened him nor did he say he saw the man with a gun. He said he told detectives the man was just standing there when he got shot. 

Prosecutors asked if Lee felt bad about the incident, and Lee said he did, but he told detectives the man “got himself shot.” 

“I feel bad for the whole situation,” Lee said in court. 

Prosecutors asked if it was true that Lee told detectives “If I was the shooter, all I would have to do is scream self-defense,” which Lee admitted. 

After Lee’s testimony, the defense rested its case.

Parties are set to reconvene for closing arguments on Sept. 23.