During his trial Tuesday, Demonte Hewitt, 22, pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, first-degree assault, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault and use of a handgun in commission of a crime of violence.
By agreeing to plead guilty, the Washington, D.C. resident brought his trial to an end.
He faces up to 30 years in prison and will be sentenced Sept. 10.
Hewitt had been charged in a June 15, 2022 incident in Silver Spring that was caught on surveillance cameras.
According to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, a man and woman left a birthday celebration at a bar on Georgia Avenue. The man left the woman at a car and began to cross Georgia Avenue when a car pulled up and two men jumped out.
The two men were clad in black and wore ski masks and gloves and were holding handguns. They chased the victim who had run into an alleyway as the men and a car pursued him. They opened fire, shooting the victim, according to the state’s attorney’s office.
The victim continued to run. When he saw a police cruiser, he shouted, “I’ve been shot.”
Montgomery County Police officers applied a tourniquet to his leg. The victim survived the shooting.
Hewett, as well as two others, were arrested.
Nathan Barnes pled guilty Oct. 3 to armed robbery and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Brian Bowen pled guilty May 6 to conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault and use of handgun in commission of a crime of violence.
Both are awaiting sentencing.
“This was senseless, gratuitous violence. These men intended to kill the victim, who was a stranger to them,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
