A non-fatal shooting defendant accepted responsibility for his actions and received a seven year prison sentence before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on April 24.
Demarco Bates, 29, pleaded guilty on Feb. 10 to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting on the 2700 block of Langston Place, SE on April 10, 2024.
As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to a seven-to-eight year prison sentence, subject to Judge Kravitz’s approval at sentencing.
Prosecutors requested an eight year sentence for Bates because of his “extremely reckless behavior” at the scene. They showed footage of Bates firing 10 rounds at a white sedan that instead struck a Metrobus and a nearby apartment building, shooting a woman in the foot and ankle.
The driver of the Metrobus prepared a victim impact statement that was read by prosecutors. In his statement, he questioned why this happened and whether he could prepare for another similar moment in the future. He requested that the judge sentence Bates to the maximum penalty because of the severity of his crime.
Alvin Thomas, Bates’ attorney, said Bates shot at the white sedan out of fear because he saw the car drive by him multiple times that day. Thomas argued that a seven year sentence was sufficient because Bates “wasn’t trying to shoot the bus or the woman.”
Bates prepared a letter saying, “I am Demarco Bates and I take full accountability of my actions.”
Judge Kravitz believed a seven year sentence was sufficient to deter Bates from further crime, while also maintaining the safety of the community.
The judge sentenced Bates to 42 months for each assault charge and a concurrent 60 months for the possession charge. Bates will serve a total of seven years of imprisonment, but he will earn credit for his two years of time already served and have three years of supervised release after his sentence ends.
No further dates were scheduled.
