Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Traquon Demonte McCalip, a 21-year-old resident of Washington D.C., has been sentenced to 114 months in federal prison. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Amit P. Mehta for unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated assault while armed.
The incident took place on March 20, 2024, at a fast-food restaurant parking lot located on the 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue NE. McCalip approached an individual under the pretense of wanting to buy cigarettes. After discussing prices, he attempted to take the individual's bag, then drew a concealed handgun and shot the person in the abdomen.
During the ensuing struggle, McCalip noticed a police vehicle arriving at the scene. He retrieved his firearm's magazine, which had fallen out during the altercation, and fled in a vehicle parked nearby. He left behind his firearm but was apprehended shortly after near 1805 Bladensburg Road NE. Officers found the firearm magazine and ammunition on the driver’s seat of his car.
McCalip pleaded guilty on August 23, 2024, to charges related to unlawful possession of a firearm by someone with a prior conviction punishable by more than one year in prison and aggravated assault while armed. In addition to his prison term, McCalip will serve five years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean T. Ryan from Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department announced the sentence.
The case was investigated by both the Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI’s Washington Field Office and prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor from the Department of Justice.
