Victim Hit by Stray Bullet Tells Jury of ‘Traumatic’ Experience in Murder Trial

By Leah Meyer , Brigette Bagley - March 25, 2025
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A victim of a stray bullet recanted the traumatic ordeal before jurors and DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on March 24. 

Demonte Gibson, 27, and Asani Forte, 26, are charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, conspiracy, assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and destruction of property for their alleged involvement in the murder of 34-year-old Delonte King on Nov. 3, 2021, on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW. Gibson is additionally charged with unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction. 

The witness, who was shot in the arm by a stray bullet four inches from his heart, testified that while landscaping with his nephew on 14th Street, he heard a sound that he thought was fireworks and felt a sharp burning sensation in his left arm. 

“I had no pulse in my left arm, and the doctors told me that I had a severed artery. They told me I would lose my arm,” he said. His pulse recovered, and he has gained full function of his arm since the incident. 

However, the witness stated that “my strength is not there anymore,” and “it was real traumatic for me.” He also told the jurors that his grandchild was born prior to the incident, and he had recently gotten married. “My life was almost taken for absolutely no reason. I didn’t have anything to do with what was going on,” he said. 

Prosecutors also called on a woman who had a bullet shot through her son’s bedroom window. The bullet cleared the window and “exploded” into her son’s TV, according to the witness. 

The witness testified that her son is autistic and routinely stands or sits in front of his TV throughout the day. She stated that it was “unusual” for him not to be in front of the TV at 2 p.m., which is when the shooting occurred. 

She and her son moved away after the incident, stating that it was “traumatic” and “made it hard to live there” afterward. 

An officer from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) testified that he conducted a search warrant in Gibson’s apartment in 2021 in relation to another case. He stated that he recovered a Glock gun box, a .40 caliber magazine that could contain up to 13 rounds, two documents that confirmed Gibson’s identity, and a burgundy jacket.

One of the prosecutors said she believes the jacket is a key identifier for Gibson in surveillance videos the prosecution plans to show later in the trial.

During the defense’s cross-examination, the officer confirmed that he was only involved in the search of the apartment and knows no additional details of the case.

The officer also said there was no identification at the apartment for an “Asani Forte”.

A Department of Forensic Science (DFS) crime scene technician walked through the evidence, including the victims’ clothing, which was removed while receiving medical attention, 21 bullet casings, and a knife with a string attached. 

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 26.