Whitley Sentenced to 13 Years for Shooting Teen in Face

WASHINGTON D.C. – DELMAR WHITLEY GETS 13 YEARS FOR SHOOTING TEEN IN FACE

A 47-year-old Washington D.C. man has been sentenced to 13 years in prison for shooting a 17-year-old teenager in the face and back, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Delmar Whitley, also known as Damar Whitley, was sentenced to 13 years for assault with intent to kill while armed and five years for possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. Whitley entered his guilty plea on March 15, 2024.

According to the government’s evidence, with which Whitley agreed, on the morning of August 31, 2022, Whitley returned home to his apartment building in the 4700 block of Alabama Avenue SE. While walking through the common area of the building, Whitley exchanged words with the first victim, a 17-year-old who was visiting the building before he and his classmates were to go to school.

After that exchange, Whitley went inside his apartment briefly, came back out armed with a firearm, and shot the teenaged victim in the face. Whitley then chased that victim outside and shot him a second time, hitting him in the back. Video footage showed that Whitley also pointed the gun at another teen who had been with the victim and was also trying to get away.

Whitley fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Police arrested him on September 22, 2022, and Whitley has been detained since that date. In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Prins and Michael Roberts, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Whitley’s sentence is a harsh reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence in our community. The bravery of the victims and the swift action of the Metropolitan Police Department led to Whitley’s arrest and conviction. We hope this sentence brings some measure of justice and closure to the victims and their families.