Opening Statements Delivered in Non-Fatal Shooting Trial

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On March 4, opening statements were delivered in a non-fatal shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan.

Kamara Huffler, 32, is charged with assault with intent to kill, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, and multiple unlawful possession of a firearm charges, for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting. The incident occurred on Sept. 19, 2022, on the 800 block of Barnaby Street, SE. One individual sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident.

According to court documents, Huffler allegedly attempted to enter an apartment and was involved in a verbal altercation with the individual who lived there. It escalated into a shootout, and the victim sustained a gunshot wound to his knee.

The prosecution claimed that the apartment Huffler was trying to enter forcibly was occupied by a woman and her children. According to the prosecution, at three a.m. the woman was awakened by knocking at the front door. When she looked through the peephole, she saw a woman wrapped in a blanket.

After going back to bed, the woman inside heard more knocking, again looked through the peephole, and noticed that the woman outside was joined by a man, who was later identified as Huffler. The prosecution claimed that the woman continued to ignore the knocking, but grew worried as the knocking became more aggressive.

According to the prosecution, the woman called her boyfriend, the victim of the shooting, who immediately left work to check on her. Upon his arrival, he saw Huffler and the other woman were still at the apartment. The victim tried to make Huffler leave, but he remained resistant, the prosecution alleged.

The prosecution claimed that the victim followed Huffler to the parking lot to ensure he was leaving the premises, and that’s when he allegedly drew his gun and began to shoot.

In the defense’s opening statements, Huffler’s attorney, Jamison Koehler, argued that the night of the incident was “a terrible mistake” and that Huffler had to act in self-defense.

Koehler claimed that Huffler was out partying, “having a good time”, and wanted to continue his “night of fun” by going to his friend’s apartment.

According to Koehler, Huffler mixed up the apartment numbers and accidentally ended up at the wrong door. Huffler even called his friend, letting him know that no one was answering the door, who advised him to keep knocking, Koehler stated.

Koehler alleged that the shooting victim showed a gun to Huffler who fired in self-defense.

“Keep an open mind until we tell you our side of the story,” Koehler said.

Parties are slated to return March 5 to resume trial.