WASHINGTON – A chilling daytime shooting spree in southeast D.C. has led to the indictment of two men, Vance McIlwain and Kenneth Johnson, both 32 years old from Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
In a shocking display of violence on November 8, 2024, McIlwain and Johnson allegedly fired over 15 rounds in a residential neighborhood, resulting in the shooting of an innocent man. Both were indicted by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on August 13, 2025, facing charges including assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The arraignment took place today, August 15, 2025, before Honorable Judge Jason Park. If convicted, the men face up to thirty years in prison. The attack was captured on CCTV, showing Johnson passing a cross-body bag containing a firearm to McIlwain inside an apartment building hallway.
The duo then moved to the entryway of the building, where they exchanged the firearm. McIlwain walked down the alley and opened fire, hitting the victim on a front porch and narrowly missing a neighbor’s house. The spree left 15 spent shell casings at the scene.
Following the shooting, McIlwain returned to hand the gun back to Johnson before fleeing. Johnson entered an apartment unit where he was later arrested, while McIlwain was apprehended about an hour and a half later. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) recovered 15 spent shell casings from the scene.
Chief Pamela Smith of the MPD joined in the announcement, emphasizing the department’s commitment to investigating such violent acts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rudolf is prosecuting the case. As with all criminal charges, McIlwain and Johnson are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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