Victim’s Family Taunts and Prays for Homicide Defendant at Sentencing

By Laura Berol - May 17, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

“I know my son wouldn’t hate you because I know his heart,” Antwon Duncan‘s mother said to Diamante Butler in a victim impact statement. She made the remarks at Butler’s sentencing for Duncan’s murder.

“You were friends once,” she said.

Duncan was shot to death at the age of 20 in the middle of the day on June 28, 2020, on the sidewalk in the 2600 block of Birney Place, SE.

Butler, now age 23, was arrested for the shooting within a few weeks and charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license outside home or business. 

Butler pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on Nov. 20, 2023, as part of a plea deal in which the prosecution agreed to drop all other charges stemming from the incident. 

While the voluntary sentencing guidelines call for a person with Butler’s criminal history to receive between 12-to-24 years incarceration, the prosecution requested 14-to-16 years imprisonment and five years supervised release. 

“You killed him for literally no reason,” one of Duncan’s aunts castigated Butler in her victim impact statement. “You could have fought him like a man, but you killed him like a coward.”

“You were scared. You couldn’t face Antwon. You know this,” Duncan’s young female cousin taunted Butler. Then she began repeating, “I pray you come home, bro. I really pray you come home, bro.” 

DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe, admonished her to address him rather than Butler.

“Vengeance belongs to the Lord,” said Duncan’s godmother. “We ask for justice, and hopefully his mother finds peace.”

“I pray you find peace,” Duncan’s mother told Butler when she took her turn to speak. “It’s sad to see my son gone, but it’s sad to see another young Black man sitting in jail.” 

She testified she formerly worked with young people to improve their lives, but she no longer could because she was overwhelmed by the number of tragic outcomes.

“I’m broken. My life is broken,” Duncan’s mother admitted, yet she told Butler, “I still pray for you. Every time I pray, I pray for you.” 

She urged him to use his time in prison to get the help he needed, saying, “Do good. Don’t let this second chance pass you by.” 

“Amen to what my sister said,” another of Duncan’s aunts stated after Duncan’s mother, “but–I pray God forgive me–I want your family to feel the pain we feel. I hope you die in prison.”

Judge O’Keefe sentenced Butler to 16 years’ incarceration and five years’ supervised release. He ordered that Butler remain at the DC Jail until Aug. 31 to finish his high school diploma before being transferred to prison.