Victim Testifies in 2023 Non-Fatal Shooting Trial

By D.C. Witness Staff - November 2, 2023
Daily Stories | Non-Fatal Shooting | Shooting | Suspects |

On Nov. 1, the victim testified in a non-fatal shooting trial before DC Superior Court Judge Sean Staples.

Tiaquana Chandler, 42, is charged with conspiracy, first-degree burglary while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with significant bodily injury while armed and soliciting a violent crime, for her alleged involvement in a shooting that took place March 28, on the 3400 block of 13th Place, SE.

One individual sustained a gunshot wound to the leg after an apparent altercation in an apartment building.

Prosecutors called a witness who was at the apartment when the altercation took place.

According to the witness, there was a group hanging out, doing drugs and drinking alcohol in a friend’s apartment when an altercation between Chandler and the victim broke out. She said when Chandler acted disrespectfully toward the victim and punched him, the victim punched her back and tried to remove her from the apartment. 

The witness said later that evening Chandler knocked on the door, and Chandler’s son Donnell Tucker, 27, barged through and grabbed the victim. She said the pair was threatening to kill him and beating him. She said Tucker shot the victim five times in the leg and then they ran away–however according to court documents only one shot was fired.

The witness said what happened was “very mean and very sad”.

Following the eyewitness’ testimony, prosecutors called the victim. 

The victim told a similar story; however he claims he never struck Chandler and that he was not doing drugs that evening.

According to the victim, after he kicked Chandler out, she returned and he said that “Her [Chandler] and her son attacked me”.

To show the severity of his wounds, the witness displayed scars on his head to the jury and explained that it has been difficult for him to walk since the incident.

In cross examination, Chandler’s defense attorney, Thomas Healy, asked the victim if he was sure who shot him, he said, “I believe that [Chandler’s] son shot me,” referring to Tucker.

The prosecutors called a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective who interviewed Chandler when she was initially arrested.

According to the detective, in a video displayed to the court, Chandler explained her side of the story, in which she claimed that, after an incident outside of the apartment, the victim choked Chandler. In that video, Chandler claims that she gave a random man marijuana in return for assaulting the victim and said her son was nowhere near the scene of the crime.

According to the detective, Chandler was cooperative during the interview. 

Parties will reconvene Nov. 2.