WASHINGTON - A 33-year-old District of Columbia man, Azariah Israel, has been sentenced to 64½ years in prison for his role in the armed robbery, assault and shooting on January 27, 2006, at a 7-11 store at 3012 14th Street, NW, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced.

Israel was sentenced today before the Honorable Gregory Jackson. In October 2008, a Superior Court jury found Israel guilty of Armed Robbery, Assault with Intent to Kill while Armed, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and related weapons offenses.

Israel, who used the nick-name of "Head," frequented the Clifton Street Northwest neighborhood. The entire event was digitally recorded by surveillance cameras. The jury heard evidence that Israel entered the store with a shotgun in his hand, jumped on a store counter, struck one employee with a shotgun, shot another employee with his shotgun and took about $117.00 from the store.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor commended the tenacity and perseverance of Major Case/Cold Case Detectives Mitchell Credle, Darryl Richmond, Jeff Owens, and Carlos Hilliard for working diligently and deliberately in investigating this case. He also commended the work of MPD Officers Kevin Jeter and Keith Slaughter of the Mobile Crime Unit; Thomas (Ron) Royal of the Litigation Support Services Unit; as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach and Deborah Sines, who prosecuted this case.