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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- February 15, 2019
Court
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Homicides
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Policy
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Suspects
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After serving more than 24 years in prison for orchestrating a mass shooting in 1994, a defendant was released from prison Feb. 12 and ordered to serve five years on supervised release. The defendant’s release stems from a wave of changes put in place by the Youth Act.
A photo of Duwan A’vant.
In April 1995, a jury convicted Kevin McCrimmon of second-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and assault with a dangerous weapon for his role in the shooting death of 15-year-old Duwan A’vant at 7th and O Street, NW in 1994. McCrimmon allegedly ordered his co-defendant William Napper to carry out the shooting at O Street Market with three other men. Eight additional victims were injured in the process.
McCrimmon, who was 17 years old at the time, was sentenced to life in prison. Napper was also found guilty in connection to the case and is currently being held without bond.
During the hearing Feb. 12, Judge Ronna Beck said that because the defendant appeared to show true remorse for his actions and because he was 17 at the time of the shooting, that McCrimmon was no longer a danger to society. She also said that McCrimmon’s psychologist inside the prison concluded he has a low risk of recidivism.
McCrimmon faces life in prison if he violates the terms of his supervised release.
According to DC Courts, in September of 2018 the defense filed a motion, requesting that the court reduce McCrimmon’s sentence pursuant to the Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act of 2016. The act, which went into effect Oct. 1, is part of the Comprehensive Youth Amendment Act of 2016, which, among other things, bans life sentences for juvenile offenders.
Judge Beck granted the motion on Feb. 6.
According to court documents, McCrimmon was not present at the time of the shootings, but instead, ordered the shooting and helped carry it out by supplying people with guns.
Judge Beck said that the shooting was part of a deal between McCrimmon and his codefendant, William Napper. Apparently, Napper planned to shoot A’Vant, who allegedly robbed and shot McCrimmon in an earlier incident. In exchange McCrimmon promised to kill another man who shot Napper’s brother.
According to court documents, four men, including Napper, arrived at O Street Market and opened fire with semi-automatic pistols, which were supplied by McCrimmon.
The Washington Post reported that among the victims shot, was a young mother and her 7-year-old daughter and two off-duty FBI officers.
According to the judge, McCrimmon would be released in a few weeks.
Thamar Bailey contributed to this article.