Shooting Defendant Found Guilty on All Charges

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A homicide defendant was found guilty of all eleven charges after a two week trial in front of DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on April 7.

Roger Jones, 42, was charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, fleeing a law enforcement officer, carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business with a prior felony, threat to injure or kidnap a person, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and simple assault for his alleged involvement in shooting that occurred on Jan. 22, 2022, on the 1400 Block of Oakie Street, NE.

Jones was linked to the incident through surveillance footage, cell phone tracking data, vehicle data, and ballistics evidence which linked the gun used in this shooting to a gun used in a Feb. 19 shooting by his accomplice, Riley Benjamin, 32.

On June 14, 2024, Benjamin took a global plea offer, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his involvement in a shooting that occurred on 3000 block of Bladensburg Road, NE on Feb. 19, 2022, and assault with intent to kill for his involvement in this incident.

According to the testimony and evidence in this case, on Jan. 22, 2022, Jones attended the Kick Axe Throw Social with his then-girlfriend, where they had an argument, and he fled with her car. After he left, his ex-girlfriend called and asked him to return with her car.

Jones returned to Kick Axe Throw Social refusing to give her back her keys and then punched her multiple times in the face. After security from the bar broke up the altercation, he took off again in her car. When his ex-girlfriend returned home, she again called him asking for her car back when he threatened to kill her.

Jones returned to the scene, driven by Benjamin, and shot a security guard who was standing near the truck of his car seven times in the back at close range. The victim was paralyzed from the waist down. Jones then drove his ex-girlfriend’s vehicle by her house where she was talking with police officers. The officers followed the car but he ignored orders to pull over and fled.

During the trial, Jones was also linked to the Feb. 19 shooting which resulted in the death of 31-year-old Maurice McRae.

Parties are slated to reconvene on June 13 for sentencing.