Deon Cannon, 30, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 24 years in prison for shooting at a father and his six-year-old son on Labor Day weekend in 2021, at Naylor Gardens on Terrace Road SE, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department.
Cannon was found guilty on August 7, 2024, of one count of assault with intent to kill while armed of a minor, one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon of a minor, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition, and one count of carrying a pistol without a licence, following a jury trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Cannon to serve five years on supervised release.
According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 5:40 p.m., on September 5, 2021, as Cannon paced the sidewalk on Terrace Road SE, he waited to cross paths with the victim.
When the victim walked from a nearby playground with his six-year-old son, Cannon fired two rounds aimed directly at the victims. In defence of his son, the father fired back, while a second shooter came from around the corner and fired 17 more rounds aimed at the victim. The victim’s son ran away.
Cannon was arrested later that day and has been held in custody since.Â
