BOSTON, May 8, 2014—A Brockton man was sentenced to state prison today following his conviction last month for shooting an elderly woman when he opened fire on a crowd in Boston’s South End, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.
A Suffolk Superior Court jury on April 11 found KEVIN WASHINGTON (D.O.B. 12/14/79) guilty of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Jurors acquitted him of an additional indictment charging armed assault with intent to murder.
At a sentencing hearing this afternoon, Assistant District Attorney David Bradley of the DA’s Senior Trial Unit recommended a sentence of 10 to 12 years in prison. Judge Janet Sanders sentenced Washington to five to seven years in state prison followed by three years of probation, during which time he must complete 1,000 hours of community service.
During the trial, Bradley presented evidence and testimony to prove that at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 28, 2012, a car pulled up in front of a Shawmut Avenue liquor store. Surveillance images captured Washington jump out of the vehicle and opened fire into a group of individuals. Prosecutors alleged at trial that he was gunning for a group of males in front of the store but instead struck a 62-year-old woman in the arm. The victim, who told police she heard the gunshots ring out before she realized that she herself had been shot, continues to suffer pain from her injury, Bradley told the court.
A Boston Housing Authority police officer witnessed the shooting and, with Boston Police officers, chased Washington through Ramsey Park, where Washington tossed the gun. When captured, Washington was wearing latex gloves and told police, “You won’t put that gun on me.”
When additional Boston Police officers responded to locate the tossed weapon, GRACIANO APONTE (D.O.B. 3/16/66), directed them to a different area of the park. Aponte – who had no connection to Washington – then picked up the gun and stashed it in a brown paper bag. Authorities believe he intended to take it from the scene when police cleared the area, but witnesses directed the officers’ attention back to him. Aponte eventually admitted that he had picked up, taken, and hidden the gun. He pleaded guilty on April 11 and received two to three years in state prison.
“People of conscience need to condemn this behavior,” Conley said. “The shooting defendant didn’t just shoot at a rival. He travelled to the scene. He put on latex gloves. He knew exactly what he was doing when he opened fire on a crowd of people on a busy Boston street. And who did he hit? An elderly woman who posed no threat to him or anyone else. The city’s streets are safer with this individual far away from them. As for the man who secreted the gun instead of telling police where it was, the community reaction to that behavior speaks for itself. Witnesses were all too happy to tell police exactly where that gun went, and we’re grateful. They may very well have prevented another shooting – or worse.”
Jassie Senwah was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate. Washington was represented by attorney Bernard Grossberg.
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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
