Editor’s Note: Tyshay Moore was acquitted of all charges by a jury on May 2, 2025.
The former co-defendant in a shooting, who was severed from the case and accepted a plea deal, testified before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on April 28.
Tyshay Moore, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, four counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, and simple assault for her alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting on May 10, 2023 at the 700 block of 7th Street, NW. The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries to the face, arm, and torso.
Javonee Jackson, 25, was initially charged with the same offenses in connection with the incident. However, during the cross-examination, Moore’s defense attorney, Hannah Claudio, pointed out that Jackson signed a plea deal, the terms of which were not disclosed in court, and as a result was severed as a co-defendant. She was called to testify against Moore.
Finishing her testimony, Jackson explained the complicated relationship she has with the victim, her ex-boyfriend and the father of her son. “Every relationship is not perfect,” said Jackson. She said she wasn’t afraid of him, but admitted to the ups and downs they’ve had.
She explained why she had been reluctant to identify Moore as the shooter. Allegedly, there was an Instagram account that posted people’s personal situations such as who was going to jail and who was snitching in court. She was worried that telling the truth would put her and her son at risk.
“I’m used to keeping my mouth closed on a lot of stuff… it was for the safety of my son,” Jackson stated. When asked why she changed her mind and identified Moore as the shooter, Jackson said, “Because she is… I’m tired of hiding.”
The prosecution also called the doctor who treated the victim’s wounds. He walked through his medical report to the jury, explaining the wounds to his teeth, chin, and stomach and the surgeries and other medical treatment he required.
The prosecution also called the victim to the stand. He suffered four gunshot wounds: three to the lower half of his torso and one to the face. He also testified about the complicated relationship between him and Jackson, and how Moore was also an on and off romantic partner with Jackson.
He remembered hanging out at DC’s Gallery Place shopping area and seeing Jackson. According to the victim, she approached him and started yelling. Not wanting to get involved, he backed away and tried to avoid her, according to the victim. He felt someone kick him and then felt a punch to the back of his head. Then, he got hit with gunfire and fell to the ground.
The victim testified he woke up in the hospital confused and unable to talk, and he stayed there for three weeks. He underwent three surgeries and it took him three days before he could walk again.
When questioned by detectives a week after the incident, he told them it was either Javonee or Tyshay who shot him. He was under the impression that they wanted him dead, and believed he had seen them both right before he got shot. However, all he saw of the shooter was the person’s eyes.
On April 29, the victim continued his testimony. Defense attorney Varsha Govindaraju questioned him about what she described as his history of lying under oath to the grand jury, lying to law enforcement, and his prior convictions including robbery and domestic violence charges.
The prosecution also called an FBI supervisory special agent who specializes in legal and policy advice, and is a member of the Cellular Analysis Survey Team (CAST).
According to the witness, the phone number associated with Moore initiated an outgoing call that was consistent with being in the vicinity of Gallery Place at 9:38 p. m. on May 10, 2023. However, she was unable to pinpoint the exact location.
The defense began its case, first calling a professor of psychology who specializes in eyewitness identification accuracy. She testified about forming and holding a memory, and what errors can affect what a person remembers.
In this case specifically, the witness pointed to the partial disguise of the shooter, presence of a weapon, short exposure time, stress levels, and multiple potential perpetrators as potential factors affecting witness identification.
Parties are slated to reconvene for trial continuance April 30.
