Phillip Bealle, 39, and James “Stacey” Williams, 54, have been convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault with significant bodily injury while armed. The convictions relate to an incident that occurred outside a liquor store in Southwest Washington, D.C., on June 25, 2024.
The verdicts were delivered by a jury on September 5, 2025, after a three-day trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2025 before Judge Andrea Hertzfeld.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Bealle and Williams attacked an adult male following a verbal altercation inside the liquor store. Bealle used a wooden plank from a nearby construction site to beat the victim after he tried to walk away. Williams joined in by striking the victim with his metal walking cane. The attack was largely captured by surveillance cameras at the store.
Metropolitan Police Department officers found both defendants near the scene shortly after the incident. The victim was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where his head injuries required staples.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the verdicts and was joined by Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In their announcement, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Chief Smith stated: "They commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia."
They also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikéla Cuffy and Katherine Ballou for prosecuting the case.
