Two Washington, D.C. men, Vance McIlwain and Kenneth Johnson, both 32, have been indicted and arraigned in connection with a November 2024 shooting that involved more than 15 rounds fired in a southeast D.C. residential neighborhood. The charges were announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The indictment was handed down by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on August 13, 2025. Both men face charges including assault with intent to kill while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, aggravated assault while armed, endangerment with a firearm, and conspiracy. Johnson faces an additional charge for unlawful possession of a firearm.
McIlwain and Johnson appeared before Judge Jason Park on August 15, 2025. If convicted on all counts, each could receive up to thirty years in prison.
According to evidence presented by prosecutors, the incident occurred on November 8, 2024 at approximately 3:50 p.m. Surveillance footage allegedly shows McIlwain and Johnson conspiring inside an apartment building hallway before moving toward the entryway landing. Johnson is seen handing McIlwain what is believed to be a firearm concealed in a cross-body bag. After several exchanges involving the weapon between the two men at the building’s entrance, McIlwain left the building and fired over fifteen shots at a man sitting on a front porch nearby. Investigators reported that stray bullets entered neighboring homes and were found on porches.
Following the shooting, authorities say McIlwain returned to hand off the gun to Johnson before fleeing the scene; Johnson then entered one of the apartment units where he was later arrested by police. McIlwain was apprehended about ninety minutes after the incident in the vicinity of the shooting location. Police recovered fifteen spent shell casings from outside.
Both suspects have remained in custody since their arrests.
Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in making this announcement.
The Metropolitan Police Department is leading the investigation into this case; prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rudolf.
“An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law,” according to officials.
