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By
Jeff Levine
- May 7, 2025
Court
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Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Suspects
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DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan found Michael Alexander, 19, was likely responsible for a shooting that could easily have turned into a murder.
“Mr. Alexander intended to kill the complaining witness by shooting him in the head,” said the judge in a preliminary hearing on May 7;
Alexander, 19, is charged with assault with intent to kill and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for a non-fatal shooting that occurred on Feb. 21 at a pick-up location of the GoPuff delivery service on the 300 block of S Street, NE.
During the May 7 hearing, the prosecution called the investigating detective who responded to the initial call reporting a shooting. The officer described the sequence of events as captured by three surveillance cameras positioned inside and outside the building.
The initial sequence shows a person identified as Alexander and the victim in a room packed with messengers picking up packages of food and other items stored in bins ready for delivery. According to the detective, Alexander and the victim interact but there’s no audio of the encounter.
In the following clip two people are seen running out of the building, with the victim apparently circling around Alexander who then, according to the arrest affidavit, aims a gun directly at the victim’s head, fires one shot grazing the victim in the ear.
Police say the victim didn’t actually identify Alexander as his assailant although another GoPuff employee recognized him from a photo.
The prosecutor said the shooting followed an argument inside the building which rapidly escalated.
The victim, “engaged in conduct not appropriate in any workplace,” said the prosecutor but that didn’t justify Alexander’s allegedly violent response.
Alexander’s Attorney, Albert Amissah, said the facts show otherwise and that his client acted in self-defense.
“He was chased, attacked and reacted,” said Amissah.
In his ruling finding probable cause, the judge said the video evidence was compelling.
“Mr. Alexander comes back and produces the gun with the man’s back turned toward him, fires back at him hitting him in the head,” said Judge Ryan.
While awaiting trial, Amissah argued for Alexander’s release based on his strong family support including a newborn daughter. Further, the defendant is enrolled in a trade school.
However, Amissah acknowledged that Alexander is on probation for a juvenile matter pending in Virginia. After a confidential conversation with the prosecutor and Amissah, the judge ruled that Alexander should remain in custody.
“I can’t be sanguine that the circumstances of this case would not repeat themselves based on contacts in other jurisdictions,” said Judge Ryan, agreeing with the prosecutor that Alexander could not safely be released into the community.
The next hearing in the case is set for June 6.