Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Assault While Armed For Shooting His Neighbor in Southeast Washington

            WASHINGTON – Steven Talmadge Jones, 65, of Washington, D.C., has pled guilty to a felony charge stemming from the shooting of his neighbor, which occurred in October 2017 on their block in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu announced today.

            Jones pled guilty on Dec. 15, 2017, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to one count of aggravated assault while armed.  The Honorable Danya A. Dayson scheduled sentencing for April 20, 2018.  The charge carries a mandatory minimum term in prison of five years and a potential maximum penalty of 30 years in prison.

             According to the government’s evidence, Jones and the victim are neighbors and have known each other for several years.  The two men had prior arguments related to the Homeowner Association rules for their gated community.

             On Friday, Oct. 20, 2017, at approximately 2:20 p.m., the victim was waxing his car in the driveway outside his home in the 2200 block of Retta Gilliam Court SE. Jones was at his own home on the same street. Jones opened a window and shot the victim once in the chest. The victim fell to the ground bleeding.  After the shooting, Jones took his dog, got into his car, and drove away.  He was arrested on Nov. 1, 2017, and has been in custody ever since.

            The gunshot entered the victim’s back, exited his chest, and pierced his heart.  As a result of the shooting, the victim sustained serious bodily injuries that required surgery and hospitalization, including at least nine days intubated in an intensive care unit. He is in ongoing rehabilitation and treatment.

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Liu commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).  She also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Tiffany Fogle, Intelligence Analyst Zachary McMenamin, and Criminal Investigator John Marsh.  Finally, U.S. Attorney Liu commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Natasha Smalky, who investigated and prosecuted the case.