One of the most compelling cases I was assigned to had a very dramatic and unique ending compared to other stories I reported on. The defendant maintained her innocence and was acquitted on May 2; this story was originally reported on before the acquittal.

Case Acquitted: Defense Claims ‘Laundry List of Doubts’ During Closing Arguments in Shooting Trial

Published on May 5, 2025

Editor’s Note: Tyshay Moore was acquitted of all charges by a jury on May 2, 2025.

DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson heard closing arguments in a non-fatal shooting trial during hearings on April 30 and May 1.

Tyshay Moore, 27, is charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, simple assault, and four counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence for her alleged involvement in a shooting that injured one individual. The incident occurred on May 10, 2023, on the 700 Block of 7th Street, NW. 

Javonee Jackson was recently severed as a co-defendant after taking a plea deal with the prosecutors. 

Prosecutors began with their closing statements, reiterating that Moore was the shooter, and no matter what the victim had done in his past, “it doesn’t mean he deserved to be shot four times in the face and body.”

They argued that Moore shot the victim following a dispute rooted in a “complicated web of relationships” involving Moore, her ex-girlfriend Jackson, and the victim, who was also in a previous relationship with Jackson, where they share a son. Prosecutors allege Moore was driven by jealousy and anger after the victim commented on her deceased cousin.

Throughout the closings, prosecution highlighted surveillance footage from the incident, cell site evidence that allegedly tracked Moore near the shooting, and the testimony of Jackson and the victim.

“The defendant wanted to get rid of the victim,” the prosecutor told jurors, calling the shooting a deliberate act of violence and arguing Moore’s actions showed clear intent to kill.

The prosecution walked the jury through their timelines of events through surveillance footage. It showed someone masked and faceless, whom the prosecution claims is Moore, with a friend of Jackson’s. They both approach the victim after he was seen arguing with Jackson, when the masked suspect punches him and pulls out a gun, firing four shots at the victim.

“There is no proof beyond a reasonable doubt, because there is a laundry list of doubts.” Hannah Claudio, Moore’s defense attorney, told the jury. 

She claimed the prosecution presented “assumptions, not evidence,” and insisted a proper investigation was lacking, citing the absence of physical evidence, like DNA testing of the bullet casings.

Claudio challenged the credibility of both key witnesses, focusing in particular on Jackson, who initially told police she didn’t know who the shooter was. According to the defense, Jackson only implicated Moore after entering a plea agreement in March 2025, under which her own charges, including ten felony counts and conspiracy, were dropped in exchange for cooperation.

“Faced with prison time and never seeing her son again,” Claudio argued, Jackson gave the prosecution what they needed.

The defense highlighted Jackson’s changing testimony multiple times, especially about when and how Moore allegedly confessed to the shooting. In the first meetings with the prosecutors, Jackson claimed Moore admitted guilt the day after the shooting, when she showed Jackson her XD-style gun. But, while on the witness stand, and after the defense showed Jackson proof they never met the day after the shooting, she said the confession happened on her son’s birthday.

Claudio also noted that surveillance footage does not clearly identify Moore and that cell site data only showed her phone briefly pinging in the area, which the expert witness testified could mean she was possibly passing through. 

Claudio also argued that the motive Jackson offered the prosecution in exchange for her severance from the case was false because, during the victim’s testimony, the defense asked if he knew the cousin he was being subject to aspersions, to which he said no.

“The prosecution built its case on assumptions, not evidence,” Claudio said. “There are no assumptions when a person’s life is on the line.”

Parties are slated to reconvene when the jury reaches a verdict.