A man was sentenced to 16 months in prison Wednesday for pointing a loaded weapon at U.S. Capitol Police officers in September.
John Wesley Wheeler Jr., of Suitland, Md., pleaded guilty in March to assaulting, resisting or impeding police.
Wheeler was accused of approaching a Capitol Police officer in a marked scout car at Washington and Independence avenues in southwest D.C. before 5 a.m. Sept. 17 and pointing a gun at the officer, Capitol Police said. The officer evaded the gunman, who fled on foot.
Prosecutors said the evidence would prove Wheeler was preparing to fire the gun.
Moments after the officer broadcast a lookout for the gunman, two other Capitol Police officers saw Wheeler, who pointed the gun at them, Capitol Police said. Fearing for their lives, those officers shot and wounded Wheeler at Second and C streets.
Following his sentence Wheeler will be placed on 36 months of supervised release, beginning with 90 days under a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew and on electronic monitoring.
