WASHINGTON – Derrick Watson, 41 of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury of five counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and felon in possession for a shooting that took place on July 10, 2017, in Northwest Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.

           The guilty verdicts were returned Wednesday, July 24, 2019, following a one-week trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Craig Iscoe scheduled sentencing for October 11, 2019.

           The government’s evidence established that on July 10, 2017, at approximately 8:54 p.m., the defendant engaged in a gun battle with Saheed Salu and Kevin Williams in a small courtyard behind 1341 I Street NE, Washington, DC. During the shooting at least 15 innocent adults and children were in the immediate area and a one-year-old was struck in the crossfire requiring medical attention. Earlier in the evening, the defendant was involved in a verbal altercation with Saheed Salu over gambling. Saheed Salu left the area and returned with Kevin Williams both armed. Once the defendant noticed Kevin Williams was armed, the defendant walked to his car, retrieved his own firearm, and returned closer to Salu and Williams. Soon after at least 13 gunshots were fired by the three shooters. Saheed Salu and Kevin Williams plead guilty and were sentenced in January 2019.

           In announcing the verdict and guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling, Victim/Witness Program Specialist Karina Hernandez, former Victim-Witness Advocate Diana Lim, Supervisory Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington, Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Sabrina Turner, Paralegals Tiffany Fogle and Antoinette Sakamsa, former Criminal Investigator John Marsh, intern Elizabeth Brown, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kerkhoff and Louis Manzo.

           Finally, she acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachel Bohlen who prosecuted the case and Monica Trigoso who investigated and prosecuted the case.