A Washington, D.C., man has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for killing a 26-year-old man during a flag football game at an elementary school in October 2021.
Antonio Hawley, 23, was sentenced in D.C. Superior Court on October 9, 2026, for the fatal shooting of Aaron Wiggins on the sports field of Watkins Elementary School, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Hawley was 18 at the time of the shooting, which took place following a flag football scrimmage between two opposing teams.
Newsweek contacted the Department of Justice via email on Monday for comment.
Flag Football Game Ended In Fatal Shooting
The shooting occurred at approximately 9:45 p.m. on October 6, 2021, while Hawley and Wiggins were playing against each other during a flag football game at Watkins Elementary School.
According to evidence presented by the government, the field lights switched off during the match. Both teams agreed to play one final down before ending the game. During that last play, Wiggins caught the winning touchdown.
However, tensions had been building throughout the game, with Wiggins and members of Hawley’s team engaging in repeated verbal taunts. The exchanges became more heated after Wiggins scored the decisive touchdown.
The game ended, and players from both teams began collecting their belongings in preparation to leave the field.
Hawley Fired 17 Shots At Wiggins
As players gathered their possessions, Hawley took a handgun from a teammate’s bag and approached Wiggins. Hawley then fired 17 shots at the 26-year-old, striking him 13 times. Wiggins died at the scene.
During the trial, Wiggins’ girlfriend, who witnessed the shooting while on the field with him, delivered an emotional testimony about the incident, as reported by DC Witness.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office described the incident as a fatal outcome of a rivalry during a flag football game.
A police bulletin was released by the Metropolitan Police Department at the time of the incident.
Image: Metropolitan Police Department
Man Found Guilty Of Three Firearms And Murder Charges
Hawley was found guilty on February 3, 2026, of three offenses connected to the killing.
The convictions included first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license.
Following the convictions, Judge Danya Dayson ordered Hawley to serve 32 years in prison. He will also be subject to five years of supervised release after completing his prison sentence.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the sentence, emphasizing the consequences of the violence that led to Wiggins’ death.
Pirro said the case demonstrated how a rivalry during a flag football game had ended in murder. She also expressed sympathy for Wiggins’ family, noting that the sentence could not undo the loss they had suffered.
She added that the punishment sent a clear message that those who take another person’s life through violence would face serious consequences.
Police And Prosecutors Recognized For Their Work
Interim Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffery Carroll joined Pirro in announcing the sentence. In their announcement, the officials commended the Metropolitan Police Department personnel who investigated the case.
They also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jin Park and Mark Levy, who prosecuted Hawley.
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