A D.C. Superior Court jury has returned a guilty verdict against 30-year-old Deon Cannon of Washington, D.C., for a string of charges including assault with intent to kill while armed, specifically targeting a minor. Cannon was implicated in a shooting on Labor Day weekend in 2021, which occurred in Southeast Washington. The verdict came down yesterday, after a trial that unfolded in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
The events in question transpired around 5:40 p.m. on September 5, 2021, on Terrace Road SE, when Cannon, accused of lying in wait, engaged his victim—a man accompanied by his 6-year-old son. As they walked from a playground, Cannon fired two shots at the father and son. The father retaliated to protect his child, and a second assailant emerged to hastily fire additional rounds. In the aftermath, the young boy was able to quickly run to safety.
Officers encountered Cannon minutes after the shooting and pursued him after he attempted to flee. He was subsequently arrested and has been detained since this incident. His attire at the time of arrest matched that of the suspect captured on nearby surveillance footage. The government’s case was strengthened by DNA and ballistic evidence presented at trial. Moreover, Cannon was also convicted of several related charges, including possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful possession of a firearm, and possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device.
Judge Rainey Brandt has set the date for Cannon's sentencing on October 11. Upon sentencing, Cannon could potentially be ordered to serve up to 35 years in prison. This case was a result of collaborative efforts by the Metropolitan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with prosecutors Sara Matar and Mark Levy leading the charge in court.
