Teen Gets Probation for Shooting a Juvenile Playing Basketball at a Recreation Center

WASHINGTON - Darius Drew, 19, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to probation, on charges stemming from the shooting of a young boy who was playing basketball at a Northwest recreation center in May 2026, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Drew pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault and one count of carrying a pistol without a license, on August 10, 2026, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Government requested the Court to sentence Drew to five years in prison, a sentence at the top of the defendant's sentencing guidelines, due to the defendant's indiscriminate conduct, including firing over twenty rounds of ammunition into the community from two different locations. Superior Court Judge Jennifer Di Toro sentenced the defendant to serve 24 months in prison but suspended the execution of that sentence and placed the defendant on 18 months of supervised probation. The Court sentenced the defendant under the Youth Rehabilitation Act, over the government's objection.

According to the government's evidence, on May 11, 2026, in the 700 block of Taylor Street, Northwest, Drew was spotted riding a Lime bike into the alley. A short time later, ShotSpotter alerted to the sound of ten gunshots. The defendant is captured on surveillance video firing a gun at a car parked in an alley. Then, seconds later, in the 4100 block of 9^th Street Northwest, Drew again fires a gun toward a house near the alley and strikes a boy playing basketball at a nearby recreation center. The victim sustained injuries to his leg. In total, Drew fired over 20 rounds of ammunition into the community.

A search warrant later executed at Drew's home resulted in the recovery of two firearms, ammunition, and large amounts of suspected narcotics and marijuana.

Pictures of the firearms recovered by law enforcement from the defendant's bedroom

Drew was arrested on May 22, 2026, and was in custody until his release today, over the government's objection.

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Natalie Anderson, who prosecuted the case.

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