Washington, D.C. – A 33-year-old District of Columbia man, Azariah Israel, was found guilty today by a Superior Court jury of Armed Robbery, Assault with Intent to Kill while Armed, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and related weapons offenses 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, 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.

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12, 2008, before Judge Gregory Jackson. He faces a maximum penalty of 85 years of imprisonment.

In announcing the verdict, 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 are prosecuting this case.