Shooting Defendant Pleads Guilty After Conviction Vacated

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A shooting defendant pleaded guilty before DC Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe on June 30 after a motion to vacate a previous jury trial conviction was granted.

On April 30, Donnell Wells, 36, was acquitted of three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of aggravated assault knowingly while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his alleged involvement in a shooting on Aug. 1, 2024, on the 500 block of Newcomb Street, SE.

The jury convicted him of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for his possession of a revolver during the incident.

Wells’ defense attorney, Brandon Burrell, filed for a post-disposition motion hearing on May 17 claiming a faulty DNA test kit was used in investigations, thus deeming the jury’s guilty verdict as prejudiced.

Wells’ case was re-opened on June 12 after Burrell’s motion to vacate the conviction was granted.

In his June 30 hearing, Wells accepted the prosecution’s newly filed plea offer, which charged Wells with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. The prosecution agreed to limit its sentencing request to 18 months of incarceration.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Sept. 19 for sentencing.