At a motions hearing for a non-fatal shooting defendant on Jan. 23, DC Superior Court Judge Deborah J. Israel expressly told parties that the post-conviction plea offer they proposed was unusual and confounding.
On March 11, 2025, Diamond Early, 33, was convicted of assault with significant bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, simple assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Early was involved in a shooting that injured one woman on July 31, 2023 on the 4000 block of Kansas Avenue, NW.
The case, which was supposed to go to sentencing on July 25, 2025, has been delayed multiple times since the conviction.
During the hearing, defense attorney Antoini Jones, in agreement with the prosecution, presented a plea agreement that would require Early plead guilty to four of her charges while the remaining four were dismissed – it is unclear which ones would be dismissed. Judge Israel stated that this plea agreement is occurring under unique circumstances, since there has already been a jury trial and guilty verdict for Early’s case.
Additionally, Judge Israel emphasized that there is not yet a solid basis of fact for the plea offer, and the parties are to work towards establishing one before the next hearing so that they can move forward with the plea.
Parties are slated to reconvene March 20.
