District Man Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison For Shooting in Southeast Washington

            WASHINGTON – James Joseph, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison after earlier pleading guilty to a charge stemming from the shooting last year of a man in Southeast Washington, Acting U.S. Attorney Vincent H. Cohen, Jr. announced. Joseph shot the victim seven times, including two gunshot wounds to the middle of the forehead.

            Joseph pled guilty to aggravated assault while armed, on July 6, 2015, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for the 10-year prison sentence. The Honorable Rhonda Reid Winston accepted the plea today. Following his prison term, Joseph will be placed on five years of supervised release.

            According to the government’s evidence, on Nov. 25, 2014, at approximately 7:30 p.m., the Metropolitan Police Department responded to a dispatch regarding a shooting in the 1000 block of 12^th Street SE. Officers discovered the victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his body, including his head, leg, kidney area, and hand. According to the victim, he had been arguing with Joseph in the hallway, and the victim returned to the apartment. A short time later, the victim heard a knock at the door, and when he opened the door, Joseph was standing in the doorway. Joseph pointed a handgun at the victim, and then fired one shot at the victim’s leg, causing the victim to fall to the ground. Joseph then fired several more times, striking the victim in the forehead, hand, and stomach area.

            The victim now walks with a pronounced limp and requires the aid of a cane at all times. He will never regain full function of his leg or kidney functions.

            In announcing the sentence, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen commended the work of the officers, detectives, and others who worked on the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Tamika Garcia, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Vivien Cockburn, who investigated and prosecuted the case.