Derrick Gladden, 55, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty on Mar. 11 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia for shooting Christopher Seward during a dispute in April 2024, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The case is significant as it highlights the dangers posed by armed confrontations and the impact of emergency medical interventions. The victim survived the initial shooting due to a blood transfusion administered through the Whole Blood Program, which had just been launched at that time.
According to evidence presented by prosecutors, on April 15, 2024, Gladden confronted Seward about an ongoing money dispute while Seward was standing on a friend's patio in the 2300 block of Marion Barry Avenue SE. Gladden then shot Seward in the chest. Despite suffering life-threatening injuries, Seward survived after receiving immediate medical attention but later died from cancer in April 2025 before he could testify.
Police identified Gladden as the shooter based on information from Seward and obtained an emergency search warrant for his residence. Officers found ammunition matching a casing at the scene along with firearms accessories and a holster. A neighbor also provided Ring camera footage showing Gladden fleeing his apartment after the incident. Gladden was arrested on July 4, 2024, and has remained in custody since then.
The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Eliot Folsom and Natalie Anderson. Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll joined Pirro in announcing the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for May 15, 2026.
