⏱ 2 min read
On May 6, 2025, Phil Darkwah, a 32-year-old previously convicted felon, fled from police in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C., after being pulled over for a traffic violation. As he ran, he discarded a loaded .40 caliber Glock 27 handgun into a planter near an apartment building. The incident occurred at around 4 p.m. in the 100 block of I Street SE. Darkwah had been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2023 and was on probation at the time of the offense.
Metropolitan Police Department officers pursued Darkwah and recovered the handgun, which was later linked to him through DNA testing on the gun’s magazine. Darkwah pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon on November 14, 2025.
On the day of sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Loren L. AliKhan ordered Darkwah to serve 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Federal prosecutors had requested a 37-month prison term. The case was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative, which aims to crack down on gun violence in the nation’s capital.
Darkwah’s sentence reflects the seriousness of his offense and the need to protect the community from individuals who illegally possess firearms. The case highlights the importance of law enforcement efforts to combat gun violence and the consequences for those who break the law.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: District of Columbia
- Location: DC
- Source: DOJ Press Release
