Jury Finds Man Guilty of Aggravated Assault While Armed in Northwest D.C. Attack

WASHINGTON - Darren Buchanan, 54, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday by a Superior Court jury of aggravated assault while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The verdict follows a four-day trial.

Superior Court Judge Michael O'Keefe has scheduled sentencing for September 20, 2024.

According to the government's evidence, on July 2, 2019, the victim was riding on a Metrobus on Georgia Ave. NW when he kicked the defendant's daughter. After the victim got off the bus, the defendant's daughter called her mother-the defendant's wife-to tell her about what happened. They all agreed to meet at a nearby establishment. Buchanan and his wife got into a taxi, and while they were on their way to meet their daughter, the defendant noticed an individual who matched the description of his daughter's attacker. Buchanan exited the taxi, grabbed a large tree branch, and hit the victim with the tree branch multiple times. The victim -who was unarmed-began running from the defendant and eventually entered the market of a gas station located approximately ten minutes away from the location of the initial assault. Buchanan followed the victim for several blocks. As seen on video surveillance, the defendant peered through the window of the gas station market, saw the victim on the ground sweating and talking to himself, and entered. He then kicked the victim once in the chest and stomped on his head seven times. As a result, the victim was rendered unconscious, was transported to the hospital, and has been receiving treatment at a rehabilitation center, since the attack, for injuries related to the traumatic brain injury he suffered. After the defendant assaulted the victim, he boasted about his assault to law enforcement personnel during a police interview.

In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sabena Auyeung and Matthew Goldstein, who prosecuted the case.