DC Superior Court Judge Renee Raymond denied release for a defendant accused of shooting into a crowd of people, injuring three, in a hearing on June 24.
Sequan Herron, 25, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for alleged involvement in a shooting on April 28 on the 1300 block of 5th Street, NW. Three victims sustained gunshot wounds, with one shot in the arm, another shot in the arm and buttocks, and the third, a five-year-old victim, shot in the legs.
Herron waived his right to a preliminary hearing that would determine if the prosecutors’ evidence proved probable cause for the charges against him.
Herron’s attorney, Veronice Holt, requested that Judge Raymond release her client. Holt stressed Herron’s commitment to seeking new employment, his family’s backing, who appeared as support in court, and his clean record, with no prior arrests or convictions.
The prosecution, however, contended that Herron is a threat to the community, referencing video evidence they claim shows Herron scouting the incident area thirty minutes before he allegedly returned to randomly fire into an open crowd.
According to prosecutors, Herron was supposed to appear in court for an unrelated matter in Maryland, but the case was not tracked on the bail sheet, which is why Herron has no recorded prior arrests or convictions.
The prosecution additionally underscored that this incident was allegedly targeted and pre-planned, not random, despite the motive remaining unclear.
Holt replied that the attack couldn’t be characterized as targeted. Since another unidentified suspect was captured on video, there are two perspectives to consider. The defense claimed that “we don’t know who shot first,” which calls into question Herron’s role.
Judge Raymond declined to release Herron, stating that this is an “incredibly horrifying type of offense.”
Parties are scheduled to reconvene on July 14.
