Armed Special Police Officer Sentenced for Shooting Woman in Northeast Washington

            WASHINGTON – Chanel Clinton, 27, of Alexandria, Virginia, was sentenced today to 36 months in prison, plus an additional 24 months of suspended jail time, for the January 2024 shooting of a woman at a convenience store in Northeast Washington D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Clinton pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon on February 7, 2024. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Erik Christian ordered Clinton to serve five years of probation.

            According to court documents, on January 18, 2024, Clinton was working as an armed Special Police Officer assigned to the 7-Eleven at 4854 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE. She and the victim, a former acquaintance of Clinton’s, got into an argument when the victim videoed Clinton in a taunting manner. The two continued their verbal altercation in the parking lot. An off-duty MPD Sergeant happened to be paying for his purchases inside the 7-Eleven when he heard the argument in the parking lot. The sergeant, who was in full uniform, walked outside as Clinton grabbed the victim in the face, and Clinton and the victim began to fight. The sergeant briefly separated the two women. Suddenly, Clinton pulled out her service weapon and fired once, hitting the victim in the shoulder just above the collarbone. The sergeant, who had ordered Clinton to drop her weapon before she fired, immediately placed Clinton under arrest. The victim was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital. Investigators recovered a 9 mm Glock 17 pistol at the scene.

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Lawrence, who prosecuted the case.