Deonte Patterson, a 29-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been convicted of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, among other charges, for the August 2021 shooting of 32-year-old Ali Jamil Al-Mahdi. This was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The jury's decision came after a trial held in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Patterson was also found guilty of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and obstructing justice. The Honorable Michael Ryan has scheduled the sentencing for May 30, 2025. Patterson could potentially face a life sentence for these crimes.
Evidence presented by the prosecution revealed that on August 23, 2021, around 2:24 a.m., officers from the Third District Metropolitan Police Department heard multiple gunshots in the vicinity of 9th and T Street, N.W. They discovered Mr. Ali Al-Mahdi at 1822 9th Street, N.W., unconscious and suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to Howard University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries despite efforts to save him.
Surveillance footage and witness accounts placed Patterson at the crime scene. Mr. Al-Mahdi was reportedly shot while attempting to reach his car. Shortly after the incident, Patterson's involvement became apparent when his car crashed at 9th Street and Massachusetts Ave N.W., overturning several times. A gun linked to Patterson through DNA evidence was ejected from the vehicle during the crash, matching the 40 caliber casings found at the crime scene. Additional casings indicated return gunfire possibly striking Patterson’s vehicle. The firearm in question was located in a fanny pack in the backseat of the car.
The conflict between the defendant and Mr. Al-Mahdi dates back to 2019 when Mr. Al-Mahdi had previously shot Patterson, a crime for which he was convicted.
An arrest warrant for Patterson was issued in January 2022, but he remained at large until his arrest on January 5, 2023. During his detention, Patterson reportedly instructed his girlfriend via jail calls not to disclose information.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren Galloway and Tamara Rubb prosecuting the case.