A homicide defendant was sentenced to 17 years in prison before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe on March 18.
Antonio Johnson, 32, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Marcellus Jackson on June 20, 2024 on the 4400 block of Hunt Place, NE.
He accepted a deal in which he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment.
The prosecution pushed for the maximum sentence of 17 years, emphasizing that Johnson has five other cases against him and the criminal justice system has continuously failed him. Kevin Mosley, Johnson’s attorney, asked Judge O’Keefe to consider the fact that Johnson accepted responsibility very quickly and showed great remorse.
Jackson’s family attended the sentencing hearing, and his mother, twin sister, and brother attested to the trauma and grief they were going through.
“This is what you left me,” said the mother of the victim, holding up the urn containing her son’s ashes. “I want you to have that same pain.”
No further dates were set.
