Shooting Defendant Waives Preliminary Hearing

By Laura Berol - May 13, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

Scotland Alston, who is accused of shooting a woman in the chest, legs and buttocks during an argument on a street corner, waived his right to a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on May 13.

Alston, 33, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that took place on Feb. 28 on the 2000 block of Benning Road, NE.

According to court documents, security footage from a nearby business showed the victim approaching her assailant on the street and starting a conversation with him that led to both of them shouting and pushing each other. When the victim followed the assailant as he began to ride away on a bicycle, the assailant dropped the bicycle and walked back toward the victim allegedly to shoot her.

Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers reported that they were responding to gunshots detected by ShotSpotter shortly after midnight on the morning of Feb. 28, when they found a woman injured by gunfire. The officers reported that the victim identified her assailant as “Scottie Alston.”

According to the officers, a witness present at the scene testified to observing the argument and the shooting but would not name or describe the shooter. This witness referred the police to another individual who was not present at the shooting but who identified Alston as the assailant based on a still photo from the security footage.

A warrant was issued for Alston’s arrest on March 20. MPD officers apprehended him on April 28.

At the hearing on May 13, Judge O’Keefe denied the request of Alston’s lawyer, Wole Falodun, that Alston be released pending trial. 

The next hearing is scheduled for June 10.