911 Plea Leads to Caller's Conviction on Gun Charge

When a friend was critically wounded in Northeast Washington in May last year, Deonte Marshall immediately got on a cellphone and dialed 911 for help. That call led to his conviction on a federal gun charge Tuesday.

Authorities said Marshall was standing next to a male friend critically wounded by two gunmen May 10 in the 1700 block of North Capitol Street. Marshall called 911. Detectives, who listened to 911 tapes, could hear Marshall asking a dispatcher to send an ambulance. Then, authorities alleged, Marshall apparently turned to someone at the scene and said "give me your [gun] before the police come."

"Hurry up, man," Marshall could be heard saying, according to court papers. "Give me your gun."

Police believed that Marshall, 29, had spirited a gun away from the scene. While searching his home in the unit block of Randolph Place NW two weeks later, they found a loaded .32-caliber revolver, authorities said in court papers.

Marshall was precluded from having such a weapon because he is a convicted felon. His criminal record, prosecutors wrote, included convictions for unauthorized use of a car, possessing cocaine with the intent to distribute it, drug distribution and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The 911 tapes were not played for the jury during the trial. But jurors did watch a videotaped statement by Marshall to D.C. police. In it, he admitted that he owned the gun and had purchased it for $80, according to court papers filed by federal prosecutors George Varghese and Melinda Williams.

It is unclear whether the revolver found at Marshall's house was also at the scene May 10, or whether there were any guns at the scene.

Jurors deliberated for about two hours before convicting Marshall of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Sentencing is set for Dec. 17. His attorney, Edward Sussman, said Marshall plans to appeal the conviction.

Police have arrested a man in the shooting of Marshall's friend. That case is pending in D.C. Superior Court.