District Man Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison For Shooting a Man
And Conspiring to Cover Up The Crime
- Co-Defendant Sentenced to Six Years For Joining in the Cover-up -

     WASHINGTON - Jamal Shepherd, 27, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 22 years in prison on charges including assault with intent to kill while armed for a shooting last year that nearly blinded the victim, and for conspiring to obstruct justice by trying to persuade a friend not to testify for the government, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Shepherd was convicted of the charges on September 1, 2011, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The next day, the same jury found Shepherd and his friend, Darius Brown, also known as “BTB,” 28, of Washington, D.C., guilty of charges of obstructing justice, perjury and conspiracy to obstruct justice for his role in their conspiracy to obstruct justice.

     The Honorable Ronna L. Beck, who presided at trial, sentenced Shepherd today. Judge Beck sentenced Brown on November 18, 2011 to six years in prison.

     According to the government’s evidence at trial, on February 9, 2010 at about 11:30 p.m., Shepherd, Brown and two other men arrived at a home in the 200 block of Anacostia Road SE with the intention of confronting the victim, a 50-year-old man, about an ongoing dispute. The house was occupied by the victim and several women and children. An argument ensued, and the victim and others repeatedly told Shepherd, Brown and the others to leave their house.

     As the argument began to settle down, Shepherd grew upset because he wanted to fight. The others began to leave and Shepherd pulled out a silver revolver and fired two shots at the victim at close range. One bullet struck the victim in his head, causing him to lose an eye and almost blinding him completely in his other eye. The other bullet struck him in the arm.

     Police responded to the house immediately, secured the scene, and interviewed witnesses. They immediately knew the identity of the three of the four men but not the identity of the gunman, who was described as wearing a hood. In April 2010, Brown spoke with police and testified before a grand jury, but he lied to protect his friend by hiding his identity. In July 2010, police learned that Shepherd was the man in the hood who shot the victim, and Shepherd was charged the following month with assault with intent to kill while armed.

     Following Shepherd’s arrest, he and Brown conspired to obstruct justice by attempting to persuade an eyewitness to the shooting not to cooperate with the police or testify against Shepherd.

     In announcing the sentences, U.S. Attorney Machen praised the work of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), especially Detectives Thurman Stallings, Edward Truesdale and Eric Roche. He also commended the work of MPD Mobile Crime Officer Jeffrey Maslona and MPD Officers Donte Allen, Michael Minor and Master Police Officer Gregory Phifer, who were among the first to respond to the scene. U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the efforts of Paralegals Tony Griffith and Antoinette Sakamsa, Litigation Technology Specialist Joshua Ellen, Witness Security Specialist Tanya Via, and Victim Witness Advocate James Brennan.

     Finally, he recognized the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ephraim (Fry) Wernick, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

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