Woodbridge Man Fired Shots At Woman During Halloween Party Brawl

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A fight among two women at a Halloween party escalated after a Woodbridge man fired shots at one of the women, leading to a conviction on four charges against Gerald Day, 34, of Woodbridge.

Day was found guilty Wednesday of assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, and felony threats, according to a news release by the U.S. Attorney's Office for Washington, D.C.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 1. Possession of a firearm during a crime of violence carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.

According to the government’s evidence, shortly after midnight on Oct. 29, 2023, at the intersection of O Street and Carrollsburg Place, SW, the victim arrived at a party when she saw a romantic partner with another woman amid a larger group of people. The victim was unaware Day’s girlfriend was in the group; the two had a previous conflict.

The victim and Day’s girlfriend fought, and members of the larger group joined in, prosecutors said. Shortly after the exchange, the victim deployed mace at a woman in the group. After doing so, the victim took several steps away from the group when Day produced a black handgun with a tactical flashlight attachment and pointed the firearm at the victim, saying, “I’ll blow you’re a** up.”

The victim and the group continued to exchange words, during which the victim attempted to deploy mace again, authorities said. The victim eventually got into her vehicle just seconds before Day kicked her car door shut, and slammed the firearm against the window.

Prosecutors said the victim drove past the group when she heard three gunshots, fired by co-defendant Paul Poston, another member of the group who pleaded guilty in 2024 to assault with a dangerous weapon. The victim’s vehicle was struck by gunshots on the driver’s side rear door, the driver’s side rear window, and trunk.

Authorities said the victim was not injured and drove away before pulling over and calling 911. Before the incident, the victim had never met Day or Poston.