Jury Finds Defendant Guilty for Five Counts in Non-Fatal Shooting Trial

By Nick Pallotto [former] - September 22, 2023
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

On Sept. 21, a jury found a non-fatal shooting defendant guilty on five counts.

Dominic Copeland, 33, was convicted of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Copeland was involved in a non-fatal shooting that left one individual injured on the unit block of N Street, NW, on April 26, 2019. He was acquitted of robbery while armed and one count of possession of a firearm.

His co-defendant, Artie Byrd, was acquitted of accessory after the fact for allegedly helping Copeland flee the scene in a white Toyota Camry soon after the shooting.

Throughout the two-week trial, jurors heard from members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the victim, a firearms expert, a crime scene investigator, an eyewitness to the crime, a detective who investigated the scene, and a doctor who saved the victim’s life.

The victim said he knew Copeland through work and, on the day of the incident, he reached out to Copeland to arrange a drug transaction.

The victim testified that, on the day of the incident, he first met Copeland at a Wendy’s on New York Avenue, NE, and then he followed a white Toyota to the unit block of N Street, NW where the shooting took place. According to the victim, Copeland was a passenger in the Toyota, which was driven by another individual.

Once parked parallel to the white Toyota Camry, the victim got out of his black Toyota Camry and got into the white vehicle with Copeland and the driver. The victim allegedly paid Copeland $480 for the narcotics.

According to the victim, when Copeland did not turn over the narcotics, he tried to get his money back. To do so, he engaged in a struggle with Copeland when the two got out of the white vehicle.

Copeland produced a handgun out of a black bag and shot twice at the victim as he attempted to get back into his car. Copeland continued to shoot as the victim’s car pulled away, which led to his car swerving off the road and hitting a pole.

Copeland and his driver fled the scene in the white Camry.

“The only verdict that the evidence demands is that of guilt for the shooting and robbing,” the prosecutor said.

Copeland’s defense attorney, Michael Madden, said there are inconsistencies with what the victim told the court about the drug exchange.

Madden said the evidence against Copeland can’t be deemed “overwhelming” because there was skepticism in the testimony of the victim about whether or not the victim was buying cocaine or marijuana from Copeland.

He asked the jury to consider a verdict of not guilty based on these inconsistencies.

Following a day of deliberations, the jury delivered their verdict.

Parties are expected back for sentencing on Nov. 29.