Milton Hood Guilty of Brutal Attack on Elderly D.C. Couple

A 51-year-old District man, Milton Hood, was found guilty of a vicious daylight attack on an elderly couple walking in Northwest Washington. On May 29, 2015, Hood ambushed the 75-year-old woman and her 81-year-old husband on 23rd Street NW, knocking the man to the ground and ripping his wallet from his back pocket. The assault unfolded in broad daylight, exposing the brutal vulnerability of senior citizens on city streets.

The jury returned its verdict on January 25, 2017, convicting Hood on two counts: robbery of a senior citizen and assault with intent to commit robbery of a senior citizen. The two-week trial in D.C. Superior Court laid bare a crime fueled by violence and desperation. Judge Kimberley S. Knowles set sentencing for April 7, 2017, leaving the victims and the public awaiting final justice.

As the husband fell, his wife fought back with the only weapon she had—her cane. Witnesses testified that she struck Hood repeatedly in the head and neck, screaming for help as blood spilled onto the pavement. Enraged, Hood turned on her, slamming her head-first into the ground. He attempted to seize her purse, but even as she bled from head and knees, she refused to let go. Her defiance may have saved her life.

Help arrived from strangers—two passing motorists who stopped and forced Hood to flee. Their intervention likely prevented further harm. Within hours, Metropolitan Police Department officers spotted Hood blocks away, still wearing the same clothes described by witnesses. The victim’s cane, stained with blood and sweat, became a critical piece of evidence.

DNA analysis confirmed what the victims had already known—Hood was their attacker. Forensic testing linked his genetic profile to swabs taken from the cane, sealing his guilt in court. The U.S. Attorney’s Office leaned heavily on this scientific evidence, combined with eyewitness testimony, to build an airtight case.

U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips praised the MPD’s swift investigation and the dedicated team from his office, including Special Counsel Michael Ambrosino and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sharon Donovan, Michael Spence, Chrisellen Kolb, and Stephen Rickard. Support from paralegals, forensic specialists, and the Victim Witness Assistance Unit proved pivotal. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gilead Light, Michael Romano, and Allessandra Stewart, who led the prosecution, were specifically commended for their relentless pursuit of justice.

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