WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Northeast DC man traded trick-or-treating for a 15-year prison sentence after a jury convicted him of attempted murder. Jason Edwards, 32, was sentenced today for the brazen Halloween shooting of a former coworker, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced. The incident, far from a harmless prank, left the victim fighting for his life.
The jury found Edwards guilty in June 2016 of one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Judge Anita Josey-Herring handed down the 15-year sentence, followed by five years of supervised release. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment act; the evidence painted a picture of premeditation and cold-blooded intent.
The shooting unfolded on October 31, 2015, after Edwards arranged to meet the victim under the guise of a marijuana purchase. Texts exchanged between the two set the stage for a meeting in the 3100 block of Channing Street, NE. But instead of money changing hands for weed, Edwards, dressed in a Batman costume – a darkly ironic choice, given his actions – pulled a gun and shot the victim in the upper chest. This wasn’t enough for Edwards.
As the victim attempted to flee, Edwards gave chase, firing a further six shots, one of which struck the man in the leg. Fortunately, the victim survived the onslaught. Within minutes of police arriving on the scene, the victim was able to identify Edwards by first name. Investigators weren’t relying on eyewitness testimony alone. Cell site data from Edwards’ phone placed him squarely at the location of the shooting, solidifying the case against him.
U.S. Attorney Phillips lauded the collaborative effort of the Metropolitan Police Department, the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences, and the FBI in securing the conviction. He also highlighted the contributions of several individuals within the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocates Jennifer Clark and Jennifer Allen, Litigation Technology Specialists Leif Hickling, Anisha Bhatia, and Aneela Bhatia, Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin, and Paralegal Specialists Donville Drummond, Nicole McGhee, and Kalisha Johnson-Clark.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kondi Kleinman and Laura Crane were specifically commended for their work in investigating and prosecuting the case. While 15 years won’t undo the trauma inflicted on the victim, it sends a clear message: armed violence, especially in a calculated attack like this, will not be tolerated on the streets of Washington, D.C. This case serves as a grim reminder that even behind a mask, criminals will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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