A D.C. man has received a sentence of 20 years behind bars after an unprovoked shooting in Starburst Plaza left a victim seriously injured. The incident, which unfolded in the early morning of August 30, 2022, was the result of an abruptly violent interaction after the assailant, Tyrone Johnson, 43, had been denied a cigarette.
According to the United States Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, Johnson was convicted of counts that included aggravated assault while armed and unlawful possession of a firearm. Following a video surveillance review and ballistics testing, Johnson was linked to the Starburst Plaza shooting and another offense occurring a week prior. Running into a nearby complex, police later identified Johnson, having fired multiple shots at close range, hitting the victim and reported by officials.
On top of his prison term, Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo has mandated five years of supervised release for Johnson. His trial concluded this past June after mounting evidence was presented by the Metropolitan Police Department and the investigative efforts from the U.S. Attorney’s Office were recognized in the sentence.
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department praised the investigative team and thanked everyone involved from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Contributions from departments like IT Specialist Charlie Bruce and the Victim/Witness Program were essential. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Travis Wolf and Matthew Goldstein were also commended for their prosecutorial work and received recognition in the formal statement.
