Antonio Hawley, 22, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury of first-degree murder while armed and related charges in connection with a shooting on the sports fields of Watkins Elementary School in Southeast Washington. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hawley was convicted of one count of first-degree murder while armed, one count of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Sentencing is scheduled for April 10, 2026, before Judge Danya Dayson.
According to evidence presented by the government, the incident occurred on October 6, 2021. Hawley and Aaron Wiggins had just finished playing against each other in a flag football scrimmage at Watkins Elementary School. After the field lights went out at 9:45 p.m., both teams decided to complete one final play; Mr. Wiggins caught the winning touchdown. There was ongoing trash talk between Mr. Wiggins and members of Hawley’s team after the game ended.
As players were leaving the field, Hawley retrieved a handgun from a teammate's bag that had been brought onto the field at the start of the scrimmage. He then targeted Mr. Wiggins and fired 17 shots, striking him 13 times and killing him at the scene.
Hawley fled but was later identified through eyewitness accounts and school video footage by Metropolitan Police Department Homicide Detectives. He was arrested in December 2021 and has remained in custody since his arrest.
Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing the verdict.
The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jin Park and Mark Levy.
