Non-Fatal Shooting and Carjacking Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

On Sept. 6, Basil Thomas accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors for his involvement in two carjacking incidents that left him wounded by his own gun.

Thomas, 20, was originally charged with two counts of armed carjacking, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license, among other charges, for his involvement in two incidents on March 3 on the 4400 block of 8th Street, NE, and the 4800 block of North Capitol Street, NE.

According to prosecutors, Thomas and an unidentified individual approached the first victim while he was cleaning out his car, threatened him with a gun, and stole his Lexus at the first location. Thomas and his companion went to a second location, where they attempted to carjack a second victim by pointing a gun at him.

At that point, the victim tussled with Thomas attempting to take away his weapon, and during the confrontation it fired, hitting Thomas on the thigh. He and his accomplice ran off, leaving the gun in the second victim’s vehicle.

Meanwhile, the first victim’s daughter called the police and was helping them follow her father’s vehicle by tracking his phone that was left inside. Officers located the first victim’s vehicle and his belongings near the second victim’s vehicle, and interviewed the second victim about what happened.

A short time later, Thomas arrived at a hospital to receive treatment for his injury, where he told Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers that he had been a victim of a robbery. Their investigation showed that no robbery occurred, and that Thomas allegedly did not have a valid permit to carry a pistol. He was placed under arrest at the hospital.

During the Sept. 6 hearing, defense attorney Hannah Claudio alerted the court that Thomas would be pleading guilty to one count of carjacking, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, robbery, and unlawful possession of a firearm, in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges.

Parties agreed that the sentence imposed for the carjacking and possession of a firearm charge will run concurrently to one another but consecutively to the sentences for robbery and unlawful possession, which are set to run concurrently.

He faces a total of 10 years incarcerated, and 5 years of supervised release.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 29.