A former intern for D.C. Councilman Jim Graham will appear in court Monday to answer charges that he opened fire on another teen shortly after a city summer jobs orientation.
Devin Black, 19, is accused of assault in a June 18 shooting outside the Columbia Heights Metro station. Prosecutors allege that he and another teenager bickered on the train on their way home from a massive orientation for youths in Mayor Adrian Fenty’s summer jobs program. As they got off the train, the dispute escalated and Black opened fire before fleeing, authorities say.
Last-minute motions are scheduled to be argued Monday morning and jury selection could begin that afternoon.
The shooting was a mild embarrassment for Graham, D-Ward 1, who represents the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Graham bitterly denounced the shooting, saying it was proof that tough anti-gang legislation had to be enacted. Black, who was an intern in Graham’s office thanks to the summer jobs program, was joining the councilman’s staff as it worked on the crime bill.
Graham ended up driving his intern to the 3rd District Police station so that Black could turn himself in. The councilman called the accusations “troubling.”
That’s the same word Graham used last week, when his longtime Chief of Staff Ted Loza was indicted on charges that he shook down bribes from taxi cab interests hoping to get around cab licensing regulations.
Sources familiar with the ongoing bribery investigation told The Examiner that Graham has not been formally targeted by the investigation.
The councilman could not be reached Friday.
