Shooting Defendant Waives Right to Preliminary Hearing, Then Detained

By Sam Chodorow - April 23, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A shooting defendant waived his right to a preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Heide Hermann on April 22.

Theodore Williams II, 52, is charged with possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and assault with a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a non-fatal shooting that occurred on the 4000 block of Wahler Court, SE on April 18. No injuries were reported.

According to the prosecutor who proceeded with the case, Williams approached the complainant with a handgun pointed in his direction. As a result, the complainant yelled obscenities, causing Williams to retreat to his residence. 

After running back to his own residence, the victim saw an individual, who was identified as Williams, point a handgun in his direction, firing a single shot, striking his door. A bullet fragment and shell casing were later recovered from the scene.

“No one was hit, thankfully,” he said, “but a bullet hole was found in the complainant’s door.”

According to Williams’ defense attorney, Megan Allburn, her client had a strained relationship with the complainant for almost seven years, explaining that there had been multiple arguments between the two, though none became physical.

She said the years of disagreement caused Williams’ family to leave the neighborhood and move elsewhere. 

“My client’s family has lived in this neighborhood for 23 years,” said Allburn. “They are about to close on a new house elsewhere.” She alerted the court that in addition to the problems with his neighbor, Williams was also suffering separate trauma from losing two of his children in the past three years.

Allburn asked that Judge Hermann be lenient given the support from his family and his trauma.

According to the prosecution, the shooting wasn’t spontaneous. They alerted the court they had received cell-phone video from the complainant which allegedly showed Williams brandishing a firearm during an argument days before the shooting. 

Judge Hermann explained that given the seriousness of the offense committed, and Williams’ criminal history, including multiple arrests for firearm and assault charges, she believed he is a threat to the community, and ordered him detained pending future proceedings.

Parties will reconvene for May 7.