WASHINGTON, DC – Dominic Copeland, 33, of Washington D.C., has been sentenced to 132 months in prison for multiple charges, including assault with intent to kill while armed, according to U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Following his prison term, Copeland is also ordered to serve five years of supervised release.
Copeland’s conviction stems from a jury verdict on September 21, 2023. The case details revealed at trial describe an incident on April 26, 2019, when the victim, a co-worker of Copeland, met with him after work at a local fast-food restaurant. A dispute arose after the victim gave Copeland money, leading to Copeland shooting the victim multiple times as he tried to drive away, hitting him twice in the upper back. The assault resulted in the victim crashing into parked cars and becoming temporarily paralyzed due to one of the bullets. Despite his injuries, the victim was able to identify Copeland as the assailant to responding MPD officers.
The severity of the victim’s injuries was underscored by medical testimony, stating that one of the bullets, which punctured the victim’s lung and caused a severe medical emergency, could have been fatal without immediate medical intervention. The bullets were not removed from the victim’s body to avoid further harm. This sentencing reflects the gravity of the offense and the impact on the victim’s life.