Jury Finds Prior Felon Guilty of Aggravated Assault and Firearms Charges

            WASHINGTON – Derrick Gladden, 55, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty today in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for shooting Christopher Seward during a dispute in April 2024, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Gladden was found guilty by a jury of one count each of aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Superior Court Judge Brandt Rainey scheduled sentencing for May 15, 2026.

            According to the government’s evidence, on April 15, 2024, at approximately 2:15 p.m., the victim was standing on the first-floor patio of his friend’s apartment in the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE. Gladden, who lived in the apartment next door, saw the victim and confronted him about an ongoing dispute about money. He then pulled out a firearm and shot the victim in the chest one time. The victim suffered grievous injury and almost died. However, thanks to the Whole Blood Program, which had been launched that month, the victim received a blood transfusion on the ambulance and survived. Unfortunately, in April 2025, before having a chance to testify, Seward died of cancer.

            After learning the identity of the shooter from the victim, police obtained an emergency search warrant for the defendant’s residence and located ammunition that matched a casing found near the location of the shooting, along with firearms accessories and a holster. Additionally, a neighbor provided Ring cam footage showing the defendant fleeing from the front door of his apartment after the shooting.

            Gladden was arrested on July 4, 2024, and has been in custody since. This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eliot Folsom and Natalie Anderson.

2024 CF3 006550