Road Rage Shooter Sentenced to More Than 32 Years in Prison Publisher: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia Dateline: Washington, D.C. Date: 17 June 2024 Subjects: American Government , Crime

Defendant Shot at Woman Driving Her Two Young Children During Rush Hour Traffic before Turning and Shooting at a Bystander

            WASHINGTON – Kenneth Miles Davis, Jr., 45, of Maryland, was sentenced today to 32 years and six months for multiple charges arising from the May 19, 2021 road rage shooting directed at a woman and her two children, ages 11 and 5, as well as a bystander, in Northeast Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

            The defendant was found guilty of one count of assault with intent to kill while armed, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and four counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, following a three-week jury trial in January in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. 

            According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 5:00 pm on May 19, 2021, the defendant was driving his Maserati GranTurismo in heavy rush-hour traffic at the intersection of Kenilworth Avenue NE and Eastern Avenue NE when he suddenly got out of his car with a handgun. Davis fired seven times into the car in front of him, which was occupied by a woman and her two children, then turned and fired six more shots at bystanders. The woman suffered a gunshot wound to her upper arm and the 5-year-old child was cut by broken automobile glass. Fortunately, the 11-year-old child and the bystanders were not injured. Metropolitan Police Department investigators uncovered video evidence that was disseminated to local news outlets, the broadcast of which generated a tip that led to the identification of Davis as the owner of the Maserati, and ultimately, as the shooter.

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Antoinette Sakamsa and Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Renee Prather; and Litigation Technology Specialist Charlie Bruce.

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn Bartz and Gregory Evans, who investigated and prosecuted the case. 

Updated June 17, 2024

Press Release Number: 24-520