Cornelius Welch, 28, Sentenced for Firing Three Shots at a Scooter Rider
Welch at the Benning Courts apartment building in a surveillance photo captured the day of the shooting.
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
WASHINGTON – Cornelius Welch, 28, a previously convicted felon residing in the District, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 33 months in prison in connection with shooting at a scooter rider in November 2025 in Northeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“This defendant fired three shots in the direction of someone simply riding a scooter,” said U.S. Attorney Pirro. “By the grace of God, no one was struck. A convicted armed robber who was prohibited from possessing a firearm, he chose to open fire on a neighborhood street, showing a complete disregard for the lives of others. He now faces the consequences of that decision.”
Welch pleaded guilty on May 19, 2026, before Judge Rudolph Contreras to unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and to endangerment with a firearm. In addition to the 33-month prison term, Judge Contreras ordered Welch to serve three years of supervised release.
According to court documents, on Nov. 22, 2025, about 4:15 p.m. Welch was at the Benning Courts apartment complex on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, as an unknown person was riding a scooter on the sidewalk.
Surveillance photo shows Welch (circled in red) and the scooter rider (circled in yellow).
Welch drew a firearm, aimed at the scooter rider, and fired three times. The incident was captured on surveillance cameras. The scooter rider did not appear to be injured and continued to travel away from the scene of the shooting.
Welch takes aim at the scooter rider before firing three times.
Metropolitan Police officers responded to the scene, canvassed the street, and recovered three .40 caliber shell casings.
The .40 caliber pistol recovered from the apartment.
On Jan. 10, 2026, investigators from the MPD and agents from the DEA executed a search warrant at an apartment in the 1700 block of Benning Road where Welch was staying with his girlfriend. Law enforcement recovered a loaded privately manufactured semiautomatic rifle, a loaded privately manufactured .40 caliber pistol, a loaded Glock 42x 9mm pistol, powder cocaine, crack cocaine and PCP. Welch and his girlfriend were arrested and charged the same day in D.C. Superior Court with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance while armed among other charges.
Welch has a previous felony conviction for armed robbery and therefore was prohibited from possessing any gun.
On July 29, 2026, Welch was convicted in D.C. Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (cocaine) and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The privately manufactured .22 rifle (left) and the Glock 43x 9mm pistol recovered from the apartment.
This case was investigated by the DEA, the ATF, and the Metropolitan Police Department.
The matter was prosecuted under the Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful initiative by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. Lee.
Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful supports President Trump's Executive Order that cracks down on gun violence, prioritizes federal firearms violations, pursues tougher penalties, and seeks detention for federal firearms violators.