Domestic Violence Homicide Defendant Rejects Plea Offer

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A homicide defendant who allegedly confessed to shooting his ex-girlfriend rejected a pre-indictment plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt on May 3.

Desmond Thurston, 46, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 52-year-old Patricia Johnson on Oct. 1, 2023, on the 4000 block of 13th Street, SE.

The plea deal offered by the prosecution would have required Thurston to plead guilty to first-degree murder while armed. In exchange, the prosecution would not have requested a sentence in excess of 30 years and would not have sought indictment on other charges related to this case.

The prosecutor stated that he believed the combination of charges that could be indicted based on the facts of this case could lead to a sentence of 60 years to life if the case goes to trial.

Parties are set to reconvene on June 24.