Street gang member sentenced to 28 years in prison for a 2023 shooting in Triangle

On May 30, 2024, Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth announced the successful prosecution of Sean Hughes arising from the April 19, 2023, shooting which occurred in Triangle, Virginia.

On May 30, 2024, Mr. Hughes was sentenced by Judge Carroll A. Weimer, Jr. of the Prince William County Circuit Court to an active sentence of 28 years in prison.

On February 2, 2024, a Prince William County jury found Mr. Hughes guilty of shooting into an occupied dwelling, shooting from a vehicle, attempted malicious wounding, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, gang participation, gang recruitment, and use of a machine gun for an aggressive purpose.

The matter was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Kathleen Bilton and Deputy Chief of Staff Kevin Leahy.

According to Ashworth, in the case of Commonwealth of Virginia v. Sean Hughes: On April 19, 2023, Sean Hughes and a juvenile co-defendant opened fire at a residence in Triangle, VA. A woman inside the residence was struck multiple times. Detective S. Davis and another bystander were almost struck as they stood in front of the residence. Mr. Hughes and the juvenile fled the scene and were eventually apprehended in Maryland, where they were found in possession of one of the firearms used in the shooting.” Ashworth said that Mr. Hughes is a member of the criminal street gang commonly known as the Bloods.

The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney recognized Tammie Thomas, Director of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program, for the vital assistance she provided the victims and their families, and the hard work of the Prince County Police Department, especially Master Detective D. Cupka, Detective J. Dalbeck, and Detective D. Sekely.