Judge Calls Defendants Actions ‘Reckless,’ ‘Irresponsible,’ and ‘Dangerous’

By Sophie Griggs [former] - September 20, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Sept. 19, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a homicide defendant to 24 years in prison and three years of supervised release after the jury found the defendant guilty on multiple charges on March 22.

Shaka Haltiwanger, 24, was charged and convicted of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device while armed. 

According to the police report on Sept. 10, 2021, police responded to the 1400 block of 29th Street, SE where they found 39-year-old Anthony Kelly suffering from a single gunshot wound. Haltiwanger was found guilty by a jury of his peers.

During the sentencing the prosecution asked for, “24 years for the senseless murder of Mr. Kelly”.  While defense attorney, Howard McEachern, asked for Haltiwanger to be sentenced under the Youth Act, saying, “whatever time he gets today will be a substantial amount of time” and “he is only 24 years old”.

The prosecution also read one victim impact statement and the court heard another four victim impact statements from Kelly’s family and friends.

Kelly’s family expressed that he had been a caring father, son, family member, and friend and that they wanted the maximum time for Haltiwanger to serve.

McEachern explained how Haltiwanger had grown up in unstable living conditions with “rampant drug use” and that he is “someone who has been a loving brother, a loving uncle, and a mentor”. Haltiwanger also gave a statement in which he said, “a lesson has been gained from this tragedy” and “I am committed to making amends”. 

“At the end of the day no one wins,” Judge Brandt said. Haltiwanger “made a choice to pull the trigger” and that “robbed four little babies of their daddy.”

Judge Brandt also described Haltiwanger’s decision to leave the firearm at the location for anyone to find as, “reckless, irresponsible, and dangerous”.

Judge Brandt sentenced Haltiwanger to 24 years for second-degree murder while armed, 60 months for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed, 24 months for carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business, and 12 months for possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device. All sentences would be served concurrently. 

Haltiwanger is also required to serve three years of supervised release, register as a gun offender, pay a $400 fine, and receive transitional housing upon release.