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By
Sophia Gyuk
- February 4, 2025
Daily Stories
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Shooting
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DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz issued a bench warrant for an absent defendant during a hearing on Feb. 4.
Tejan Bah, 34, is charged with two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, one count of assault with significant bodily injury, and five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Nov. 27, 2021, on the 2200 block of 25th Place, NE. One individual sustained gunshot and stab wounds during the incident.
Bah failed to attend the status hearing, and, according to court records, he has also failed to appear at multiple hearings in the past, including the two most recent hearings on Jan. 10 and Jan. 21, 2025.
The prosecution requested a bench warrant to ensure Bah’s appearance in the future, and emphasized that his compliance has been “spotty at best.” Bah has been unreachable, and his defense attorney, Gemma Stevens, confirmed she has not heard from him for several weeks.
Stevens argued against the bench warrant request, asking for additional time since Bah is homeless when out of drug treatment, and his poor attendance is “more of a poverty and substance abuse problem” than defiance.
Judge Kravitz asked whether the current judicial summons, sent to Bah’s last known address, would reach him, but Stevens clarified that he no longer lives there.
Given the circumstance, Judge Kravitz issued a bench warrant in an effort to get Bah to comply.
A tentative arraignment date was set for March 13.