DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson sentenced a fatal shooting defendant to 32 years in prison on July 31, despite claims from the victim’s mother that other suspects were involved.
Antonio Hawley, 23, was convicted by a jury on Feb. 3 of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or a business for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Aaron Wiggins on the 400 block of 13th Street, SE, on a field outside Watkins Elementary School, following a nighttime flag football scrimmage on Oct. 6, 2021. Wiggins sustained at least 12 gunshot wounds.
Prosecutors asked Judge Dayson to sentence Hawley to an “extended sentence” of 40 years in prison.
“This didn’t happen in a dark alley or somebody’s residence, it happened in the open, at the worst place, a school,” the prosecution said.
Prosecutors also asked Judge Dayson to consider the impact of witnesses to Wiggins’ murder as “a horde of people were running off, scared for their lives” at the football field.
“All of those around him watched Aaron die, he was still breathing,” said a prosecutor.
“Despite his upbringing, [Hawley’s] still an intelligent and capable man,” said the prosecution. “This intelligent and capable man did all those things because he didn’t value Aaron’s life.”
According to the prosecution, Hawley was allegedly involved in an armed carjacking in the same month of Wiggins’ murder.
Wiggins’ mother told the court she didn’t want prosecutors to bring the case to trial, and didn’t listen to her when she said the case was gang related.
“As Aaron’s mom, I can say the murder of my son has broken the whole family,” she said.
“You think sending Antonio Hawley to prison would give us relief,” said Wiggins’ mother, “but we know the real shooters.”
Wiggins’ mother claimed prosecutors told her to ignore threatening messages from people she alleges are the actual culprits, and the family has had to move three times since the incident for their safety.
“I believe with all my heart the truth will come to light,” Wiggins’ mother said.
Hawley’s attorney, Julie Swaney called the prosecution’s request “excessive” and requested Judge Dayson give Hawley the mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison and run his additional charges concurrently.
“Nothing the court can do will bring Mr. Wiggins back,” Swaney said.
Swaney said the defense disagrees with the jury’s verdict but “will have to accept it at this stage.”
The defense also referenced a letter from Wiggins’ father, where he said he was “not asking that another young man’s life be simply thrown away.”
Swaney acknowledged Hawley’s earning college credits and participation in the A’Tonement Project, which encourages DC Jail inmates to give back to their community.
“I don’t find that the jury’s verdict in this case is inconsistent with the evidence as a matter of law,” said Judge Dayson.
Judge Dayson said Hawley has shown that with structure and consistency he “has the capacity to have done something very different” and acknowledged the progress Hawley has made since his incarceration.
“I have to weigh the seriousness of this offense,” said Judge Dayson.
Judge Dayson said the circumstances surrounding the incident were very different from other cases before her. She said it was “very surprising that nobody else was hurt,” and called the incident “extremely troubling.”
Judge Dayson sentenced Hawley to a total of 32 years in prison. Hawley was sentenced to 32 years for the murder charge, five years in prison for the possession charge, and one year for carrying a pistol without a license, to be served concurrently. Hawley will serve five years of supervised release after his prison sentence.
Judge Dayson set several requirements for Hawley upon supervised release, including registering and renewing his registration as a gun offender annually, a mental health evaluation, and maintaining a combination of school and/or employment. Judge Dayson also imposed a $100 fine per count towards the Victims of Violent Crime Fund out of Hawley’s jail pay, totaling $300.
At the request of the defense, Hawley’s official order to be transferred to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) will be delayed until he completes the A’Tonement Project program.
Hawley’s next court appearance is on Oct. 9.
