Prosecution Motions to Dismiss Charge in Non-Fatal Shooting Case

By Audrey Staudacher , Ayda Atici [former] - March 2, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting |

On Feb. 29, parties met in DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan’s courtroom for a trial readiness hearing about contested evidence in a non-fatal shooting case.

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 incident that occurred on Sept. 19, 2022, on the 800 block of Barnaby Street, SE. 

According to court documents, Huffler was allegedly involved in a shoot-out with another individual after attempting to break into his apartment on the afternoon of the incident. The other individual sustained a gunshot wound to his knee. 

While both Huffler and the other individual allegedly fired at each other, it is unclear as to who fired the first shot. Huffler was later arrested on Sept. 26, 2022 by Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers with a firearm that closely matched the bullet fragments recovered from the shooting.

On Feb. 5, DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein ruled that the manner of Huffler’s arrest had violated his constitutional right against illegal search and seizure and ordered that evidence obtained be suppressed during his trial.

Specifically, Judge Epstein ruled that police didn’t have sufficient reason to stop and search Huffler when they discovered he had a gun.

On Feb. 27, this case was transferred from Judge Epstein to Judge Raffinan.

During the trial readiness hearing, the prosecution filed a motion for Judge Raffinan to reconsider Judge Epstein’s ruling. Huffler’s defense attorneys, Jamison Koehler and Karen Minor, stated that they had not had time to review the new motion yet, and would respond to it at a later date.

The prosecution also proposed a motion to dismiss one of Huffler’s lesser charges, one count of possession of a large capacity of ammunition. Koehler and Minor had no objection. Judge Raffinan stated she would rule on the motion from her chambers once it was filed.

Parties are slated to return for jury selection on March 4.