Judge Sentences Shooter to Seven Years in What Came Within a ‘Hair’s Breadth’ of a Killing

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Arnold Lawrance, 33, was sentenced to seven years in prison by DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan for a shooting the judge said came within a “hair’s breadth” of a homicide.

Lawrence was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, armed robbery and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

According to court documents officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a reported shooting on Nov. 25, 2023. When police arrived at the crime scene near the intersection of 14th and V Streets, NW, they found a victim shot in the neck.

Prior to the attack, as the victim was entering his apartment, he was confronted by Lawrence wearing all black clothing in what was an attempted burglary that turned into a shooting. The victim later identified Lawrence as the perpetrator.

In the May 3 hearing, Judge Ryan said, “When things didn’t go your way, you shot this guy.”

Lawrance had originally accepted a guilty plea last year but then changed his mind about agreeing to the charges. However, he told Judge Ryan now accepts the prosecution’s proffer of the facts as the truth.

Given the seriousness of the crime, the prosecutor asked for a sentence of eight years for what “very well could have been a homicide.” He noted that the bullet passed through the victim’s neck “miraculously” without killing him.

During the proceeding, Lawrence apologized to the victim, “I wish this never happened. I’m sorry for actions that I can’t change and want to move forward,”

Defense attorney, Wole Folondun, explained that the defendant had a challenged upbringing and “that unfortunately, Mr. Lawrence fell through the cracks.”

“The best we can do is throw ourselves on the mercy of the court,” said Folondun.

In passing a sentence of seven years “straight time” Judge Ryan noted that Lawrence had four previous offenses including a burglary in Prince George’s County, MD in 2011. The defendant is also required to be on three years of supervised release and register as a gun offender. Lawrance must also pay $100 to the victim’s crime fund.

Judge Ryan admonished Lawrence to take notice of inmates who turned into old men in the DC Jail. “It’s too late for them,” he said. “You’ve got to take charge of your life.”