Duarte Santos, a 25-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 13 years in prison on August 15, 2025, following his guilty plea to several charges related to a shooting incident at a bar and restaurant. The sentencing took place in Superior Court before Judge Brandt Rainey. In addition to the prison term, Santos will serve five years of supervised release.
Santos pleaded guilty on April 24, 2025, to aggravated assault while armed, possession of a firearm during violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, and carrying a pistol without a license outside of home or business.
According to evidence presented by the government, the incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on July 5, 2024. Surveillance footage showed Santos sitting at the bar inside an establishment located at 3521 14th St NW. He then went upstairs and engaged in a verbal exchange with two individuals. A physical altercation followed between Santos and one individual. During this fight, Santos drew a firearm from his waistband and fired one shot after being threatened by an employee who said they would call police.
Santos left the premises but returned minutes later and began shooting at the two men involved in the earlier dispute as well as the bar employee who had told him to leave. One victim was struck by gunfire and later taken to hospital for treatment.
Santos was arrested on July 5, 2024, and has remained in custody since that date.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the sentence alongside Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department. “In announcing the sentence,” U.S. Attorney Pirro stated along with Chief Smith, “they commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department.” They also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Pericak Ginsburg and Anthony Cocuzza for prosecuting the case.
