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Non-Fatal Shooting

Judge Won’t Release Shooting Defendant Despite Recanting Victim

DC Superior Court Judge Deborah Israel denied a bond review motion for a shooting defendant in a hearing on April 22.

Paris Wilkerson, 37, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than one year for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue, SE on Dec. 1, 2025. No injuries were reported.

During the hearing, Wilkerson’s attorney, Adam Harris, stated he filed the motion requesting Wilkerson’s release to home confinement due to the victim’s recanting her statements against him.

According to Harris, the victim told him she regretted calling the police about Wilkerson and wanted to take her statements back. Harris said she told the same thing to the prosecutor and a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective investigating the case.

The prosecution opposed Wilkerson’s release due to a firearm found in Wilkerson’s apartment, allegedly under his mattress on a separate occasion.

Judge Israel said she was concerned about releasing Wilkerson to his apartment because of his criminal history with firearms, citing a conviction in 2016.

Wilkerson’s girlfriend offered her apartment to fulfill Wilkerson’s home confinement, but Judge Israel denied her offer because she is not the lease holder.

As a result, Judge Israel denied the bond motion, but stated she was willing to consider home confinement if Harris filed a new motion with new information.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene on July 9.

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