Antonio Hawley, 22, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of first-degree murder while armed and related charges in connection with a fatal shooting at Watkins Elementary School’s sports fields. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hawley was convicted of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2026, before Judge Danya Dayson.
According to evidence presented by the government, on October 6, 2021, Hawley and Aaron Wiggins had finished playing against each other in a flag football scrimmage at Watkins Elementary School. After the field lights turned off at 9:45 p.m., both teams decided to play one last play; Mr. Wiggins caught the winning touchdown. There was ongoing trash talk between Mr. Wiggins and members of Hawley’s team after the game ended.
As players were preparing to leave the field, Hawley retrieved a handgun from a teammate’s bag that had been brought onto the field at the start of the scrimmage. He then targeted Mr. Wiggins and fired 17 shots, hitting him 13 times and killing him at the scene.
Hawley fled but was later identified through eyewitness accounts and video footage from school cameras during an investigation conducted by Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Detectives. He was arrested in December 2021 and has remained in custody since then.
Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing the verdict.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jin Park and Mark Levy are prosecuting this case.