Non-Fatal Shooting Defendant Receives 15 Year Sentence

By Laura Berol - September 3, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe sentenced Scotland Alston to 15 years in prison on Aug. 30 for shooting a woman in the chest, legs and buttocks during an argument on a street corner.

Alston, 33, was originally charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his involvement in the non-fatal shooting on Feb. 28 on the 2000 block of Benning Road, NE.

On June 10, Alston pleaded guilty to aggravated assault knowingly while armed in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment for any other charges stemming from the facts of this case.

At the sentencing, the prosecutor read a statement from the victim describing the effects of the shooting.

“Over the last six months, I have been learning to walk and talk again,” the prosecutor read. “I really have not been there for my seven kids because I am suffering from depression.”

“She’s not the same person,” the victim’s mother told the court. “I understand because of the trauma she went through.”

The victim’s mother said the victim was shot in the chest and over the kidney and liver. She spent two-and-a-half months in the hospital and endured multiple surgeries. She experiences pain in breathing, walks with difficulty, and must wear a colostomy bag.

“Shooting a woman who’s clearly arguing with him, but she’s sitting down, not doing anything–he thought about it and came back and shot her,” Judge O’Keefe said after the prosecutor showed a video of the incident.

The prosecutor asked Judge O’Keefe to impose a sentence of 11 years, the maximum indicated by the DC sentencing guidelines.

According to Judge O’Keefe, aggravating factors in the case allowed him to impose a sentence above the maximum.

“One of the aggravating factors is that the victim sustained devastating injuries,” Judge O’Keefe said.

In addition to the prison term, Judge O’Keefe sentenced Alston to five years of supervised release, when he must secure stable housing, maintain employment, and complete anger management therapy. Alston must also pay $1,000 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund. 

Wole Falodun, Alston’s defense attorney, apologized to the victim and her family and said Alston took full responsibility for the crime.

“It’s certainly a good thing that Mr. Alston took responsibility, and he took responsibility early and didn’t draw it out,” said Judge O’Keefe, referring to Alston’s accepting a pre-indictment plea deal within a month and a half of his arrest.

No further hearings are scheduled in this case.