A judge in Washington, D.C., is facing criticism from federal prosecutors and the nation’s biggest gun rights group for setting free an 18-year-old shooter with just an ankle monitor.
Earlier this month, Amonte Moody was arrested on charges of allegedly firing over two dozen rounds from an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle in a neighborhood just a mile away from the U.S. Capitol, as per records from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Metropolitan D.C. police.
Videos showing Moody’s shooting spree on April 22 are circulating widely on social media platforms.
There were no reports of anyone injured. Luckily, There were no reports of anyone injured.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the DOJ’s D.C. district, after emptying the AR-15, Moody dismantled the weapon, fled the scene, and hid in a basement.
A police report claims that at one stage during the shooting, Mr. Moody allegedly aimed at an SUV parked in an alleyway.
Federal prosecutors requested that Moody be held without bail until his trial. The charges against him are extensive and include reckless endangerment, firearm-related endangerment, possession of a high-capacity ammunition magazine, hiding an illegal firearm, illegal firearm possession, property destruction, and evidence tampering.
Rather than detaining him, Magistrate Judge Lloyd U. Nolan Jr., a former public defender, decided during Mr. Moody’s bail hearing that, in his opinion, Moody “is not a threat to the communityy” and granted him release on house arrest, with the requirement of wearing an ankle monitor.
Prosecutors were outraged and requested an emergency hearing to urge the court to reconsider Moody’s release. The emergency hearing is set to occur on May 15.
“Despite the egregiousness of this conduct, the strength of the case, including video evidence depicting it and two identifications of the defendant as the shooter, and the statutory presumption in favor of detention pending trial, the Magistrate Judge released the defendant,” federal prosecutors wrote in its motion for the emergency hearing.
The prosecution argued against Moody’s release, citing concerns about the effectiveness of ankle monitors and the potential risk of him not being monitored 24/7, particularly during weekends.
Judge Nolan’s decision to release Moody on house arrest came after his attorney, Kavya Naini, emphasized the importance of his completion of high school and highlighted his supportive family who would help ensure compliance with the terms of house arrest.
Despite attempts to reach Judge Nolan’s office for comment, there was no response. Backlash over the ruling flooded social media, with many expressing outrage, including criticism from the National Rifle Association (NRA) regarding what they perceived as leniency towards firearm misuse.
Claims about Judge Nolan’s alleged social media posts supporting causes like Black Lives Matter and donations to related organizations surfaced, though they couldn’t be verified as his Facebook page is now private. Judge Nolan’s background includes extensive experience as a public defender before his appointment to the bench in 2010.
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