A Del Ray man who shot his ex in the leg with a 20-gauge shotgun was found not guilty of aggravated malicious wounding today.
The jury returned a not guilty verdict today (Thursday) in the case Jovan Saunders, who shot the mother of his child in the leg with a shotgun at his home on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 20, 2023. He was also found not guilty of use of a firearm in commission of a malicious wounding.
“We’re obviously pleased with the jury’s decision,” said Saunders’ attorney Megan Thomas after the verdict was rendered.
Saunders has been held without bond since his arrest in Prince George’s County more than a week after the shooting.
Saunders remains in custody. Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter could not comment on the case since Saunders goes back to court on a charge of being a violent felon in possession of a firearm on Oct. 28.
The shooting
The incident occurred at around 2:15 p.m. in a small bathroom in Saunders’ two-level house in the 300 block of East Raymond Avenue. Police found blood trails near the front door of the home, as well as a spent shotgun cartridge and more blood and evidence inside the home, according to court records.
The 30-year-old woman was shot in the leg by Saunders, who then drove her to Inova Alexandria Hospital and wheeled her into the emergency room in a wheelchair, according to court records. The wound was so severe that the woman was transferred to the trauma center at Inova Fairfax Hospital.
The woman initially told police that she was shot attempting to buy narcotics in an alley next to the Braddock Road Metro Station, but later changed her story, according to a search warrant affidavit. On June 21, she told police another story — that she met Saunders at his home, got into an argument with him and that he allegedly pointed a shotgun at her chest.
The credibility of the woman’s testimony at trial was consequently discredited by Thomas and her co-counsel Brittany Collins. They argued that the shotgun blast was unintentional, that the only people who really know what happen are Saunders and his ex, whose credibility was impeached in court.
“At some point during this argument, Jovan Saunders produced a shotgun and pointed it at (the victim), who was inside the bathroom on the main level,” police said in the search warrant affidavit. “(The victim) stated she pushed the barrel of the shotgun away from her chest when Jovan Saunders then fired the weapon, striking (her) in the lower left leg.”
Saunders drove the victim to the hospital, dropped her off and then went back home to hide two shotguns in the trunk of his car and flee the scene, according to court documents.
“The notion that this was not a malicious act, that it was not intentional is absurd,” argued Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Robert Strange in his closing argument. “The gun does not fire unless it’s been loaded and unless a finger is on the trigger.”
Thomas argued that the woman who was shot instigated the argument and that the shooting occurred in the heat of passion without malice. She said that the woman entered Saunders’ home under the pretense of using the bathroom and erupted upon finding a naked woman in the house.
“She (the woman who got shot) initiated a very volatile situation on June 20,” Thomas told the jury in her closing argument.
The Alexandria Sexual Assault Center and Domestic Violence Program is available 24/7 to listen and help at 703-746-4911.
“If you are a neighbor and know that an abusive incident is occurring, call the police immediately,” the city said. “Calling the police is simply the most effective way to protect the victim and children from immediate harm.”
