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By
Emily Carrillo
, Brigette Bagley - February 3, 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 Robert Salerno sentenced a defendant to 18 years for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident, during a Jan. 31 hearing.
On Sept. 20, 2024, Jaleel Fowler, 26, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges stem from his involvement in a non-fatal shooting incident on Dec. 8, 2023, at the Congress Heights Metro Station on the 2700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE. One individual sustained injuries during the incident.
During the hearing, prosecutors played the Metro security camera footage. The video showed the victim walking alone down a Metro hallway as Fowler approached and grabbed him from behind. In the scuffle theywere knocked to the ground, then Fowler fired his weapon and ran away.
The prosecution requested Judge Salerno sentence Fowler to between 70-to-100 months, citing the serious nature of the crime.
Defense attorney Raymond Jones asked for a sentence at the bottom of the guidelines, arguing that Fowler wants to turn his life around, receive training, and get a job. Fowler asked for leniency from the judge, claiming that “I need help.”
Even so, Judge Salerno sentenced Fowler to 78 months of incarceration for the aggravated assault charge, 96 months for possessing a firearm during a crime of violence, which will be served concurrently, and 42 months of incarceration for unlawful possession of a firearm, totaling eight years of incarceration.
Fowler is required to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund and must register as a gun offender.
No further dates were set.