A former Virginia special police officer received a three-year prison sentence yesterday for shooting a woman during a confrontation outside a D.C. convenience store. Chanel Clinton, a 27-year-old from Alexandria, was also given 24 months of suspended jail time and will be on probation for five years after her release, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

The incident unfolded on January 18 when Clinton, then working at a 7-Eleven on Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE, engaged in a heated dispute with a woman she knew. The argument escalated quickly, moving from inside to the parking lot, where an on-duty sergeant attempted to intervene. Despite the sergeant's presence, Clinton rashly decided to suddenly pull out her service firearm, opening fire and wounding the victim in the shoulder.

As per court documents referenced by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Clinton had admitted guilt to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon on February 7. The situation had reportedly begun with the victim taunting Clinton by filming her, leading to the altercation that ended in gunfire and Clinton's subsequent arrest by the sergeant.

Clinton's sentencing comes as a culmination of swift justice with U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the MPD expressing their appreciation for the work put in to quickly apprehend and prosecute. Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Lawrence was specially commended for his role in the prosecution. The victim, treated for minor injuries at a local hospital, has since recovered. Investigators on the scene recovered Clinton's service weapon, a 9mm Glock 17 pistol.