A D.C. man has landed a 16-month prison term for gun possession after jurors at the Superior Court found him guilty of carrying and tossing a loaded firearm in a residential area, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced yesterday. Jamal Walters, 26, was convicted on multiple firearms charges, including unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, and possession of ammunition, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case stemmed from an incident on the morning of February 7, 2022, when Walters, exiting a grocery store with a handgun that was loaded with 17 rounds, escalated into a chase that concluded with him hurling the weapon aside. MPD officers gave chase, and upon Walters jumping a backyard fence, they apprehended him and retrieved the tossed firearm, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. After his prison, Walters will also be subject to three years of supervised release, Superior Court Judge Jason Park ordered, adding a tail of punishment to the incarceration.
The Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia collaborated on the investigation into the incident, indicating a united front in law enforcement's approach to gun crimes. Assistant United States Attorneys Katelyn Benton and Nickolas Reck took the lead on prosecution, ensuring that the charges against Walters stuck.
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves emphasized the commitment to vigorously prosecuting illegal firearm possession to enhance community safety, highlighting the gravity of such offenses and the strong message conveyed by convictions and sentences. Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department also shared her perspective on the issue, underscoring the no-tolerance stance toward gun crimes in Washington, D.C.
