When arrests are not immediately made and witnesses cannot instantly identify a suspect in a crime, the elapsed time between the incident and the arrest can either help or hinder an investigation. While an ongoing investigation may allow for the discovery of new evidence, it can also taint existing evidence, such as witness statements as memory begins to fade. A DC criminal defense attorney must look closely at any investigation and the evidence it reveals regardless of whether an arrest is immediate or the result of a lengthy investigation.
Nearly a week after the shooting of three men in a northwest Washington DC neighborhood, police have arrested a suspect. Herbert Jackson Arrington, 24, faces charges of assault with intent to kill in the shooting that left two men with life-threatening injuries and a third man in serious condition.
On June 9, off-duty police officers working at the 9:30 Club heard nearby gunshots and reported to the scene. When they arrived at Eighth and V streets in the Shaw neighborhood, just a couple of blocks from Howard University, they found two seriously injured men. One had a gunshot wound to the head, and the other had bullet wounds to his body. Both men were transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. A third injured man had run to a nearby McDonald's for help and was also hospitalized. Though serious, his wounds were not considered life-threatening.
After the incident, police were looking for a green Chrysler 300 that fled the scene. On June 15, six days after the shooting, Arrington was arrested and charged in the assault.
When an alleged crime results in injury to multiple people, the accused person often faces increased hostility from public perception. It is imperative that A Washington DC criminal defense attorney ensures that an impartial jury is seated should the case go to trial, regardless of the situation leading to an arrest.
This article is presented by Price Benowitz, LLP, representing clients in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, please visit our Virginia Gun Lawyer and Maryland Gun Lawyer websites.
