Stabbing Victim’s Sister Calls Defendant a ‘Menace’ During Sentencing

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A defendant in a fatal stabbing case was sentenced to one year in jail before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on March 7.

On Nov. 7, 2024, Keyjuana Sinclair, 27, pleaded guilty to simple assault and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for her involvement in the fatal stabbing of 27-year-old Danielle Stuckey on Oct. 17, 2021 on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.

Sinclair’s co-defendant, Tywan Morris, 29, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon for his alleged involvement in the same incident.

Sinclair was additionally charged with attempted possession of a prohibited weapon for her involvement in a misdemeanor case which she picked up while she was on release for the stabbing case.

During the hearing, Stuckey’s mother, older sister, and daughter gave victim impact statements. They explained the impact of Stuckey’s death on their lives and talked about Sinclair’s lack of remorse.

“Justice would be served if this woman would be given time to think about what she’s done,” Stuckey’s mother said. “We deserve justice. My daughter deserves justice. Her children deserve justice.”

Stuckey’s family members asked the court to give Sinclair prison time.

“She’s a menace,” Stuckey’s older sister said. “If you let her back on the street, she’s gonna be back in your courtroom.”

The prosecution highlighted two points–Sinclair’s lack of remorse and a pattern of behavior reflected in the current case. They said Sinclair has a history of personal disputes escalating into violence. In several, they said, there were allegations that Sinclair had a knife.

“The practical fact of the matter is that she turned this into an armed [incident],” the prosecution said.

Additionally, the prosecution argued that she has repeatedly violated release conditions throughout the case.

“She didn’t put her head down [or] stay on the straight and narrow,” the prosecution said. “She picked up another case in which she had a knife.”

Sinclair’s defense attorney, Peter Cooper, argued that Sinclair shouldn’t bear the responsibility as Morris stabbed Stuckey and gave Sinclair the knife. Cooper also said that Sinclair experienced violence growing up and, as a result, needs mental health and anger management treatment.

He requested a probation sentence to enforce her compliance with these programs.

“Give her a carrot,” Cooper said. “She will come out of this better. The community will come out of this better.”

Judge Raffinan gave Sinclair an opportunity to speak, during which Sinclair apologized to Stuckey’s family members and stated that she had changed.

“I am no longer who I was,” Sinclair said. “I no longer think how I used to think. I just ask for forgiveness.”

Judge Raffinan said that she considered a variety of factors when determining Sinclair’s sentence, including her record, her mental health issues, her new case, and the nature and circumstances of the incident.

Regarding the charge for simple assault, Judge Raffinan chose a sentence of 180 days of incarceration. For the charge of carrying a dangerous weapon, Sinclair was sentenced to six months of incarceration and three years of supervised release. These two sentences would run concurrently. Finally, for the additional charge of attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, Sinclair will serve a sentence of 180 days of incarceration which will run consecutively to the sentences of the first two charges. In total, Sinclair will serve 12 months of incarceration and three years of supervised release.

No further dates were scheduled.