Victim Claims He Was Shot For Playing ‘Tupac’ Too Loudly

By Alex Garcia Pecina - September 19, 2024
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

DC Superior Court Judge Erik Christian presided over opening day of trial for a defendant who allegedly shot a victim during an argument about playing loud music on Sept. 18.

Calvon Brown, 31, is charged with aggravated assault knowingly while armed, possession of a firearm during crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a license. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in a shooting on March 22 on the 2300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. One individual sustained injuries.

Prosecutors called on the victim who testified he was going to the store to buy marijuana materials when he encountered Brown, who seemed angry about the speaker volume level of the music the victim was playing.

“I don’t know why they don’t like Tupac,” the victim told the jury, a reference to Tupac Shakur, the famous rap artist who was gunned down in 1996. After an argument, the victim testified, he challenged Brown to a fight, expecting a hand-to-hand altercation.

“He is not a man. If you’re a man, you fight with hands,” the victim told the jury. He said he was shocked when Brown pulled out a gun and allegedly fired three times, one of which hit him on the hip. The victim stated he managed to wrestle the gun away and tried to shoot back, but the gun jammed. Afterwards, the victim said, he threw the gun in a trash bin and fled.

“You cannot bring a gun to a fist fight,” the prosecution told the jury in their opening statements prior to the victim’s testimony, claiming that is exactly what Brown did. 

The prosecution stated the confrontation resulted in a decision to “take it outside,” for what the victim thought would be a fist fight.

Tammy Thom, Brown’s attorney, countered the prosecution’s opening by saying it was, “based on lies and deceit.” Thom highlighted inconsistencies in the victim’s testimony. She referred to the victim’s police statements, noting he initially refused to identify the shooter and only did so after a lengthy interview. 

The prosecution also called the victim’s girlfriend, who recalled receiving a call from the victim saying he’d been shot. She stated she met him at a nearby police precinct. According to the witness, the victim looked”bad,” stating his pants were soaked with blood. She also explained how the victim’s wound dressings had to be changed regularly the following days.

During cross examination, the witness stated she didn’t recall if the victim had his speaker with him at the precinct, but stated he must have been carrying it. 

Parties are slated to reconvene Sept. 19.