[Archived] City Resident Pleads Guilty in Shooting Case

For Immediate Release: November 20, 2017

On November 20, 2017, David Palmer, a 17-year-old Alexandria resident, pleaded guilty to three counts of Malicious Wounding and three counts of Use of a Firearm in the Commission of Malicious Wounding. The defendant was certified to Circuit Court and, pursuant to the Code of Virginia, is considered an adult for purposes of this matter.

The charges arose from an incident that occurred on July 27, 2017, in the 300 block of East Howell Avenue. Around 12:40 p.m., David Palmer waited on the front porch of a residence in the block after making threats toward an occupant of the residence who was not at home. When the resident returned home in a vehicle with two other people, the defendant walked toward the street and fired approximately 15 rounds into the car as it drove on East Howell Avenue. The defendant struck each of the three occupants of the vehicle with at least one bullet. The driver of the vehicle was shot in the face, and the bullet fractured bones in that victim’s face before exiting the victim’s head. The vehicle crashed into a parked car as the defendant continued to fire at the victims. All three were transported to the hospital for treatment of their gunshot wounds.

Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jessica Best Smith and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Joseph Martin diligently prosecuted the matter on the behalf of the Commonwealth. The case was investigated by Detectives Matthew Kramarik and William Oakley of the Alexandria Police Department.

The case is scheduled for sentencing on January 25, 2018, at 10:00 a.m., before the Honorable James C. Clark of the Circuit Court for the City of Alexandria. The defendant is currently in custody in the William G. Truesdale Alexandria Adult Detention Center pending sentencing.