Feds Sentence Shooter for Wildly Firing and Killing Innocent Bystander After DC Robbery
In June, 62-year-old Lasanta Qumar McGill was fatally shot and District resident, Demarcus Barnett, 20, recently pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. As a result, Barnett has been sentenced to almost nine years in prison for his actions.
According to the police, gunfire erupted in the streets of Northwest DC after an argument that originated in a local market. Tragically, McGill lost his life as a result of the shooting.
According to Commander James Boteler of the Metropolitan Police, on Thursday, June 8th, around 1:15 pm, officers who were on patrol near the Howard Theater in the 1900 block of 7th Street NW, heard the sound of gunshots.
When they arrived, they discovered McGill, who had been shot, and immediately provided him with medical attention until the paramedics arrived. Sadly, McGill was announced dead later that day after being taken to a nearby hospital.
After receiving assistance from witnesses in the vicinity and the authorities on the scene, a suspect involved in a shooting incident was apprehended, and a weapon was discovered at the location of the shooting.
The authorities were quick to identify Barnett as a suspect in the shooting. He was apprehended on a charge of murder while armed, just one day after the incident.
According to Boteler, McGill was simply taking a stroll outside and enjoying the pleasant weather when he met his untimely demise.
He reiterated that the presence of illegal firearms on the streets of Washington, DC is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. According to him, there are far too many individuals who are carrying these firearms without any valid reason. He emphasized that his agency, along with their federal partners, is working tirelessly to combat this problem. He also added that they are committed to ensuring the safety of the community and will continue to do their best in this regard.
It’s a sad reality that there’s a significant number of individuals who possess illegal firearms. The fact that everyday conflicts escalate to gun violence is unacceptable, and it’s a problem that needs to be addressed, especially in Washington, DC.
The prosecution had urged the court to sentence Barnett to up to 15 years in jail, citing his previous criminal record. Along with the prison term, the judge also directed Barnett to serve a five-year term of supervised release.
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