PW Judge sentences suspect to 98 years after guilty verdict in attempted murder case in Woodbridge

Amy Ashworth, Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney, has announced the successful prosecution of Daquan Artis Tinker arising from the Dec. 19, 2019, attempted aggravated murder, robbery, and malicious wounding of two victims in Woodbridge, Va.

Ashworth said Mr. Tinker pled not guilty to eight charges. After a jury trial, he was convicted on March 15, 2023, of attempted aggravated murder, aggravated malicious wounding, two robbery charges, and four use of a firearm in the commission of a felony charges.

On Oct. 6, 2023, Mr. Tinker was sentenced by the Honorable Robert P. Coleman to serve 98 years in prison, with 45 years suspended, leaving 53 years to serve.  Upon his release, he will be placed on probation for a period of five years.
 
According to Ashworth, six days before Christmas, on Dec. 19, 2019, at 1:43AM, police responded to Pearson Drive in Woodbridge to investigate a “shots fired” call.

When officers arrived, they located one male victim, 33,, in the street with a gunshot wound and assault wounds to the upper body. A second male victim was pushed down and held at gunpoint. Both men were robbed. Responding officers provided immediate first aid to the gunshot victim until fire and rescue personnel arrived. The wounded victim was flown to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He survived his wounds.
 
The investigation revealed that the victims had just returned to their home in Woodbridge after gambling at the MGM National Harbor Casino in Oxon Hill, Maryland. As they exited their car, they were approached by multiple masked men who had just pulled into the driveway behind them.

During the encounter, one victim was assaulted and then shot in the upper body before the suspects took an undisclosed amount of money and a cell phone from him. The suspects fled the scene in a dark colored SUV prior to police arrival.

Through investigation, the police were able to determine that the victims had won a significant amount of money at the MGM Casino. Video footage from inside the MGM revealed that the suspects had followed the victims around the casino until the men left. The suspects then followed the victims into the parking garage and as they returned home to Woodbridge where they robbed them of the cash.
 
On March 2, 2020, detectives with the Violent Crimes Unit obtained warrants for the arrest of three men in connection to the shooting: Daquan Tinker, Javontae Smallwood, and Tavon Vines. This investigation was aided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fairfax County Police, and investigators with the MGM National Harbor. 

The case was prosecuted by former Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney David M. Husar and Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Alex Brandler. The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney would like to commend the Prince William County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their investigation of the case, as well as Elena Latham with the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program, for the assistance she provided the victims in this case.

Ashworth said, “The sentence in this case reflects the seriousness of the offenses committed. We want people to live safely in this community. Anytime you are leaving any establishment with large sums of cash be sure to be aware of your surroundings, ask for an escort, and call 911 or drive to the nearest police station if you believe you’re being followed.”