D.C. man guilty in 2006 shooting

A District man was found guilty last week in the 2006 shooting death of another man sparked by a grudge over a missing pistol, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. has announced.

Late on the night of December 15, Damone Williams, 22, was dealing drugs along the U Street corridor, not far from the 9:30 Club, when he spotted police cars driving through the block, authorities said. He stashed his pistol and walked away.

When Williams returned, the gun was missing, authorities said, and he quickly assigned blame to 29-year-old Preston Johns, of Northeast D.C. A witness told police Williams said he would “burn him up” in revenge.

About three hours later, Williams, Johns and one other person were walking along 9th Street NW between S and R streets when gunshots erupted, prosecutors said. A witness later told law enforcement that Williams was standing over Johns with a gun in his hand.

Johns was shot three times, in the chest, left shoulder and back, authorities said.

There were no witnesses to the killing, but law enforcement officers were able to build a case based on the accounts of several witnesses to events before and after the shooting, prosecutors said.

A Superior Court jury found Williams guilty of first degree murder and two gun charges. He faces a minimum of 30 years in prison for the slaying, prosecutors said. Sentencing is set for November 5.

-- Mike McPhate