Fifteen Year Sentence Handed Down for Northeast Shooting

WASHINGTON - Scotland Alston, 33, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today before the Honorable Michael O'Keefe of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to 15 years in prison for a February 2024 shooting, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Superior Court Judge Michael O'Keefe sentenced Alston to 15 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. When announcing Alston's sentence, Judge O'Keefe cited the random viciousness of Alston's actions and the devastating injuries sustained by the female victim.

Alston pleaded guilty to aggravated assault while armed on June 10, 2024.

According to the government's evidence, with which Alston agreed, on February 28, 2024, Alston and the female victim got into a heated argument in the 2000 block of Benning Road NE, during which Alston shoved the victim and she shoved him back. During the argument, Alston took a gun from his waistband and held it at his side. A bystander tried to separate Alston and the victim, but the two continued to argue. Eventually, the victim sat down on a ledge. Alston got onto a bicycle to leave the area but then returned to where the victim sat. Alston drew his weapon again and fired numerous times at the victim. The victim tried to flee but she collapsed after being hit seven times. She spent months in the hospital recovering from her injuries.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Yarbro, who prosecuted the case.