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By
Christopher Sivak [former]
- March 15, 2023
Court
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Daily Stories
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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During a trial on March 14, one of the witnesses demonstrated how a gun works in front of the jury.
Shaka Haltiwanger, 23, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed, possession a large capacity ammunition feeding device while armed, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business for allegedly shooting Anthony Kelly, 39, in the back on Sept. 10, 2021, on the 1400 block of 29th Street, SE.
Court documents say that Haltiwanger allegedly shot Kelly in the back after the defendant and the victim argued over Haltiwanger selling Kelly’s father drugs.
The first witness, a criminal scientist that specializes in firearms and cartridge cases, explained the different types of weapons and also bullets and cartridges. He discussed how cartridges are identified and how they look once a bullet is shot from a gun.
The prosecutor handed the witness the murder weapon and asked him to explain the parts in front of the jury.
Additionally, the prosecutor handed him a 50-round magazine that holds the bullets and asked him to insert it into the firearm.
Another witness, who works in the Firearm Registration Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), testified that neither Haltiwanger or Kelly were registered for possessing firearms. The men have never been registered to possess a firearm in the District of Columbia.
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt presided over the trial.
The trial is set to continue tomorrow on March 15.