WASHINGTON D.C. – A vicious assault outside a Southwest D.C. liquor store has landed two men in the crosshairs of the justice system. Phillip Bealle, 39, and James “Stacey” Williams, 54, were both found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury while armed, following a three-day jury trial that concluded on September 5, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The attack unfolded on June 25, 2024, after a heated verbal exchange inside the liquor store. As the victim attempted to de-escalate and walk away, Bealle reportedly charged, immediately unleashing a brutal beating with a 2×4 wooden plank scavenged from a nearby construction site. Williams, already present outside, didn’t hesitate to join the fray, wielding a metal walking cane against the same victim. The entire incident was chillingly captured by the store’s surveillance cameras, providing damning evidence for prosecutors.
According to trial testimony, the assault continued until Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) officers arrived on the scene. They quickly apprehended both Bealle and Williams a short distance from the liquor store. Paramedics transported the victim to a local hospital, where staples were required to close wounds sustained to his head during the savage attack. The extent of other injuries wasn’t immediately disclosed.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro, announcing the guilty verdicts, didn’t mince words, highlighting the severity of the crime. “This was a senseless act of violence,” she stated. Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the MPD’s commitment to holding perpetrators accountable for such brutal attacks within the city.
The Honorable Andrea Hertzfeld has scheduled sentencing for both Bealle and Williams on November 13, 2025. While potential sentencing guidelines weren’t released, both men now face significant prison time for their roles in the assault. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikéla Cuffy and Katherine Ballou successfully prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on witness testimony and the damning surveillance footage.
U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith jointly commended the diligent work of the MPD officers and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia in bringing Bealle and Williams to justice. The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the violence that continues to plague the nation’s capital, and the dedicated efforts needed to combat it. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing as it develops.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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