[PR] District Man Found Guilty of Assault with Intent to Kill While Armed for Shooting the New Boyfriend of His-Girlfriend

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of Columbia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 25, 2020

            WASHINGTON – Jerel Ruffin, 39, of Washington, D.C., has been found guilty by a jury of thirty-three charges, including assault with intent to kill while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, obstruction of justice, and contempt, for shooting the new boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Shea.

            The verdict was returned on February 24, 2020, following a two-week trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Anita Josey-Herring scheduled sentencing for May 1, 2020.

            According to the government’s evidence, in the early evening hours of November 26, 2018, Ruffin went to the home of his ex-girlfriend, rang the doorbell, and waited outside when she did not answer. A short time later, the victim arrived at the house to pick up the woman for a date. Before the victim and the woman could leave in the victim’s car, Ruffin drove past their car on the street, made a U-turn, and pulled up window to window with the victim’s car. He then fired six shots at the victim’s car, striking the victim in the leg. Ruffin drove off and the woman drove the victim to the hospital, where his wounds required surgery.

            The government’s evidence also showed that following Ruffin’s arrest on November 27, 2018, he embarked on near-constant attempts to contact the woman and other witnesses in the case to get them to change their testimony. Many of those communications were captured on recorded jail calls and were introduced as evidence in the trial.

            Ruffin, who was in custody pending trial, remains held pending the sentencing.

            In announcing the verdict, U.S. Attorney Shea commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Lu Lan; Paralegal Specialists Brenda Williams and Tiffany Fogle; and Criminal Investigator Nelson Rhone.

            Finally, he commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer B. Loeb and Ryan Creighton, who investigated, indicted, and prosecuted the case at trial.