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Washington · Public Safety

Washington Community Market Shooting: Omar James, 22, Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison

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The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced that Omar James, 22, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for shooting a man in the foot inside a community market on Benning Road NE in March; the judge denied sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

Why it matters

The case is one of the closely watched gun-violence prosecutions in the District this year. By rejecting the defense's request for sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, the court signaled a tough stance on gun violence — the 22-year-old will serve real prison time and carry a permanent criminal record.

Full report

Omar James, 22, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 30 months in prison for shooting a victim inside a community market, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced.

James pleaded guilty on June 17, 2026, in D.C. Superior Court to one count of aggravated assault and one count of possession of a firearm by a person with a prior conviction. Judge Robert Salerno imposed 60 months on the assault charge — with all but 30 months suspended — plus 28 months on the firearm charge and three years of supervised probation. The judge denied the defense's request for sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act.

According to prosecutors, on March 12 MPD officers responded to 1918 Benning Road NE and found a man on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the groin. Two days later, James returned to Benning Market at 2001 Benning Road NE and argued with a bystander from the earlier incident. Surveillance video captured an unidentified suspect handing James a handgun; James then shot the victim in the right foot without provocation. Both fled. The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

James was arrested on March 25 and has remained in custody since. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Heimburger; MPD Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll joined the announcement.

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