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The 22-year-old saw the writing on the wall and admitted his guilt in the middle of a jury trial earlier this year in connection to his role in a shooting in a well-known Silver Spring alleyway following a wild chase in June 2022, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's Office.
He was sentenced to 70 years in prison with all but 30 to serve, followed by five years of supervised probation when he is released.
Prosecutors said that in the early morning hours of June 15, 2022, a man left a birthday celebration at a bar on Georgia Avenue and walked a friend to her vehicle, but when he went to return to his own vehicle across the street, a car pulled up and two men jumped out, dressed all in black, wearing ski masks and gloves, and holding handguns.
According to court documents, the men started chasing the victim and he ran for his life. He ran into an alleyway called Mayor Lane as the men and car continued to chase him.
They opened fire and hit the victim in the back.
Video then shows the car reversing out of the alley onto Silver Spring Avenue and making a left onto Fenton Street.
The victim was able to keep running and came upon a police cruiser, yelling “I’ve been shot,” prosecutors said.
Officers with Montgomery County Police applied a tourniquet to his leg in attempt to stop the bleeding until an ambulance arrived.
The victim survived.
Hewitt pleaded guilty to:
- Attempted first-degree murder;
- Conspiracy to commit first-degree murder;
- First-degree assault;
- Conspiracy to commit first-degree assault;
- Use of a handgun in the commission of a crime of violence.
“This was senseless, gratuitous violence. These men intended to kill the victim, who was a stranger to them," Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy said in a statement following the guilty plea.
"We thank Montgomery County Police, the Metropolitan Police Department, and US Park Police for their work leading to the arrests in this case and we are gratified that the three defendants have now been convicted."
Barnes pleaded guilty in October 2023 to armed robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. He is serving a 25 year sentence with all but six years suspended and will serve five years of supervised probation when released.
Bowen pleaded guilty in May and is awaiting sentencing.
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