Shooting Defendant Who Told Victim, ‘I’ll Just Shoot You in the Face,’ Accepts Plea Deal

By Kiliane Gateau - April 23, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting |

DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld  accepted a guilty plea for a non-fatal shooting defendant, who told the complainant, “I’ll just shoot you in the face,” during an argument. 

Donte Dawson, 32, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in two separate incidents, a non-fatal shooting on Sept. 29 and an assault with a dangerous weapon on Oct. 2, 2023, both occurring on the 400 Block of Melon Street, SE. No injuries were reported in either incident. 

According to court documents, the argument on October 2 was about the shooting that occurred on Sept. 29, when Dawson shot a gun towards the ground in front of the complainant.

Dawson reportedly became agitated and stated to the complainant, “If I shot at you, why you not dead,” before raising a gun to her face stating that he was going to shoot her. A bystander tackled Dawson before police arrived. 

During the hearing on April 23, Albert Amissah, Dawson’s attorney, stated that Dawson intended to enter a plea agreement with the prosecution. 

The deal required Dawson to plead guilty to assault with a deadly weapon, with a maximum sentence of eight years, in exchange for the dismissal of all other charges.

The prosecution asserted that, had the case gone to trial, they would have proven beyond reasonable doubt that Dawson had shot in the victim’s direction on Sept. 29, and pointed a gun at her at a later date. They argued that there is no legal justification for Dawson’s action.

Judge Hertzfeld informed Dawson that he would also be required to register as a gun offender in the District of Columbia.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 28.