District Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison
For 2011 Shooting That Injured 13-Year-Old Boy

-Defendant Was Firing at Victim’s Older Brother–

      WASHINGTON—Derico Jones, 20, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 17 years in prison for his involvement in a shooting last year that injured a 13-year-old boy, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.     

      Jones, also known as Donte Jones, pled guilty in July 2012, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, and obstruction of justice.  He was sentenced by the Honorable William M. Jackson.

      According to the government’s evidence, on July 5, 2011, shortly before 8 p.m., Jones was playing basketball with a man and the man’s 13-year-old brother, at the Ferebee Hope Elementary School basketball courts in the 3900 block of 8th Street SE.

      During the game, as Jones was about to shoot the ball, the 13-year-old, who was much smaller than the defendant, grabbed Jones around the waist in an effort to make an intentionally comic “flagrant” foul.  Jones reacted by telling the teenager that he would “smack” him if he did it again. In response, the boy’s older brother asked Jones what he thought he would do if he did in fact “smack” his little brother.  A brief argument ensued, after which Jones walked away. 

      Several minutes later, Jones approached the older brother again, displayed a pistol, and attempted to rob him. But the older brother had nothing of value. Jones told the older brother, “I’ll hit you when you leave,” and walked to the other side of the basketball court.  The older brother then told the 13-year-old to leave the court, and the boy headed out. The teenager began walking with a juvenile friend south on 8th Street SE, toward Yuma Street SE.

      The boy’s older brother continued playing basketball for a few minutes, took his last shot, and started to walk off the court.  As he did, he looked back and saw Jones pulling a ski mask over his face and pointing a pistol at him. Jones pulled the trigger, but the pistol initially failed to fire.  He then racked the pistol, pointed it at the older brother again, and started shooting.  As the older brother ran south on 8th Street, Jones continued to fire his weapon, missing him. The bullets, however, did hit the 13-year-old in the buttocks and right wrist. Jones then ran away.

      In October 2011, Jones and the older brother were both incarcerated at the District of Columbia’s jail. That month, Jones sent the older brother three successive notes, telling him to instruct the 13-year-old to “take his statement back” and not go to the grand jury.

      In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen praised those who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Theresa Nelson; Tanya Via, of the Victim Witness Assistance Unit; and Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Dillon, of the Superior Court Homicide Section, who investigated and prosecuted the case.