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By
Emily Nordberg
- February 25, 2025
Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Suspects
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DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean sentenced a shooting defendant to 35 months of imprisonment on Feb. 21.
On Nov. 26, 2024, Reginald Williams, 64, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction and endangerment with a firearm for firing a gun in the courtyard of his apartment building on July 27 on the unit block of Banner Lane, NW.
According to court documents, Williams got into a physical altercation with an unknown man, left the scene, returned with a firearm and fired once. No one was injured in the incident. During a police search of Williams’ apartment on Aug. 29, three guns were found, two revolvers and one semi-automatic pistol.
During sentencing, prosecutors noted this was not the defendant’s first firearms-related conviction and urged the judge to impose consecutive sentences for the two charges.
Defense attorney, Theodore Shaw, requested a probationary sentence that considers Williams’ declining health since being incarcerated, citing a brain tumor and other health complications.
Williams described to the court his struggles with heroin addiction following a series of personal tragedies, including the death of his son, the loss of multiple family members, and his first wife passing away from cancer in his arms.
Judge McLean acknowledged Williams’ hardships but emphasized his lack of accountability for the shooting and expressed concerns that he did not acknowledge the dangerous nature of his conduct.
Judge McLean sentenced Williams to 19 months for the unlawful possession charge charge and 16 months for endangerment with a firearm, to be run consecutively, followed by three years of supervised release and mandatory registration as a gun offender.
No further dates were set.