‘You Got a Lucky Break,’ Says Judge to Defendant in Homicide Sentencing 

By Adriana Marroquin - December 18, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Dec. 18, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a defendant to 11 years for his involvement in a fatal shooting after a drug deal went bad. 

Brandon Nguyen, 25,  was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed for the shooting of Brian Ward, 17, on Sept. 29, 2020, on the 300 block of Allison Street, NW.

According to court documents, the day after the incident, Ward’s family reported him missing to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and an investigation into Ward’s whereabouts ensued.

Ward’s body was not located until December 2021, when Nguyen admitted to his involvement in Ward’s death and led MPD to where he dumped the body in the woods in Laurel, MD. According to court documents, Nguyen’s father helped him sell the vehicle used following the incident. 

On Jan. 18, Nguyen accepted a plea deal that required he plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment. Parties agreed to a sentencing range of seven-and-a-half years to 11 years. 

Three of Ward’s family members gave impact statements to Judge Brandt. His mother, through tears, told Judge Brandt “He’s telling me over and over again to be strong,” and “I love my son, I miss him dearly.” 

Ward’s oldest sister claimed Nguyen has no remorse, claiming that his family helped him get away with it. “Victims have no voice,” she said, “You took a life. You took a brother. You took a family member,” she insisted. “My brother was a good kid. He was loved. He was smart,” she said. 

Likewise, Ward’s father stated “This is the worst pain anyone can feel,” and “Why do you need to shoot somebody five to six times in the head?”. During his impact statement, Ward’s father stated he was frustrated with the agreed sentencing range, saying “This is why there’s so much killing, cause ain’t nobody getting time.”

As for the defense’s claim that Nguyen was acting in self-defense, Ward’s father said “That’s not self defense your honor, that’s cold blooded murder.”

Judge Brandt told the family “I can’t imagine what you and your family have been through,” and stated she noticed the “raw pain” in everyone’s voice. “What happened to your family shouldn’t happen to anyone,” she stated. 

Prosecutors requested Judge Brandt sentence him to 11 years, arguing that Ward was missing for 15 months, before his family found out what actually happened to him, and Nguyen fired at least six shots, including some to the back of his head. 

Prosecutors argued that, instead of taking Ward to a hospital or fire station, Nguyen drove to Laurel from the District during rush hour, which Google Maps estimated could take up to an hour- and -20 minutes, and dumped his body in the woods. He cleaned and bleached his vehicle and sold it, and left the area to live in California with a family member. 

“[Ward’s] family will never be the same,” said the prosecutor. He stated they were requesting the highest amount possible due to the “horrible loss that the victim’s family has to deal with.” 

Mary Paloger, Nguyen’s defense attorney, stated that on the day of the incident “He made one of the worst decisions of his life,” and panicked, not knowing what to do. According to Paloger, Nguyen was not the individual who brought the gun to a drug deal, but rather wrestled it out of Ward’s possession and shot him. 

“This is not a case of self-defense,” said Judge Brandt. 

Paloger requested Judge Brandt sentence Nguyen under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which sets aside his conviction if he successfully completes all sentencing requirements. “Brandon is an excellent candidate for rehabilitation,” said Paloger, adding, “He’s so remorseful, it haunts him day and night.” 

In his statement to the court, Nguyen stated, “The event has been in my head all the time,” adding that he let his family down. He stated he will try to better himself and his life as he serves his time. 

Judge Brandt stated that there’s “too much violence, too many people dying for no reason in this city,” adding “I feel powerless to stop that.” 

“You have to be punished for what you did,” said Judge Brandt, stating that she is denying the request to sentence Nguyen under the YRA until she sees how he deals with being in prison. She argued that “the YRA is synonymous to a gift. I can’t give a gift until I know what I’m dealing with. Giving a gift would be a slap to the [Ward] family.” 

“The adult thing to do, the mature thing to do, would have been to call 911 and drive Brian to the closest hospital to get some help,” she insisted, adding “that should have been the only option that day.” 

“Allowing them to wonder for a year and some months… that’s some stone cold callous,” she continued. “We have to send a message to the community that you can’t commit a crime and get away with it,” she insisted. 

“You got a lucky break here,” Judge Brandt said, as she imposed an 11 year sentence with five years of supervised release. Nguyen must also register as a gun offender, and pay $100 to the Victim of Violent Crime Fund. 

“I hope you find some sort of peace, good luck,” she said to Nguyen.