Homicide Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

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On Aug. 21, a homicide defendant accepted a plea deal in front of Superior Court Judge Micheal O’Keefe.

Seaun McDowney, 20, was previously charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, attempt to commit robbery while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the fatal shooting of Marquette White, 20, who was shot in the chest on Jan. 21, 2022 on the 3800 block of Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE.

McDowney, although not the shooter, was accompanying who prosecutors have identified as the shooter, 22-year-old Maurice Williams, that day and met with him to smoke weed.

According to the prosecution, they had planned to rob White of his gun and, on the night of the shooting, McDowney watched as Williams dragged White out of the vehicle and shot him.

Prosecutors argued McDowney did not make an effort to stop the shooter and instead fled with him to Georgia where they were caught and extradited to DC on April 28.

Hannah Claudio, McDowney’s attorney, alerted the court of his intention to accept the deal, which required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Through the deal, parties agreed to a 13-to-16 year sentence of incarceration.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 15 for sentencing.