A murder defendant, was sentenced to eight years of incarceration before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on July 11 as the victim’s distraught family expressed their grief.
Rafael Stevens, 40, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on April 14 for his role in the fatal shooting of 50-year-old Aniekobo “Sammy” Umoh on Dec. 29, 2022, on the 2000 block of 7th Street, NE.
He was tried for first and second-degree murder, as well as multiple firearm charges. However, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict for the murder counts in November of 2024 but found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm due to a prior conviction.
To avoid a retrial, Stevens accepted a plea deal admitting voluntary manslaughter in exchange for an agreed-upon sentence of 96 months to run concurrently with the firearm conviction.
During the hearing, the prosecution played a compilation video showing the victim smiling and hugging friends outside a liquor store. The purpose was to show the victim was not a violent person and to highlight how the loss of someone deeply loved affected his community.
Several members of Umoh’s family addressed the court and spoke about their grief and the lasting impact of his death.
Umoh’s youngest sister told the court that the loss of her brother devastated her family. “This was the most emotionally taxing event for my family,” she said.
Reflecting on her and the defendant’s similar background, she continued, “He and I are around the same age—I went to medical school and have three beautiful boys. He continues to use his upbringing as an excuse for his actions. We both came from the same town, but I didn’t use that as an excuse.”
She concluded her remarks by saying, “I think the justice system is broken in many ways. He does not deserve any grace. He will still come out of this case with a family, but we will be broken forever.”
Umoh’s older brother recalled knowing Stevens. “I knew the defendant when he was a little boy,” he said. “Never thought he would be the one to kill my brother.”
He described the bond between his son and Umoh, saying, “My son was shy but gravitated towards Sammy, now he lost that relationship.” He asked the court, “Just give [Stevens] an appropriate sentence.”
Another sister read a statement on behalf of their mother, who could not bring herself to speak in person.
“The most tragic part was that he died alone,” she said, reading her mother’s words. “There are no words to describe the nightmare we have endured. We are shattered. Our family is shattered. I have no idea what healing from this loss looks like.”
She then shared her own statement with the court. “I loved my brother very deeply,” she said. “As the two kids in the middle of the pack, we had our little bond. I miss Sammy immensely. Sammy was like a Renaissance man—able to make magic with his hands and his mind. He struggled to find his place and worth in this world. Sammy’s light will shine in each of us for eternity.”
Stevens’ defense attorney, Varsha Govindaraju, asked the court to accept the agreed-upon sentence, emphasizing that Stevens had persevered through difficult circumstances. “Even though Mr. Stevens’ background was stacked up against him—mental health issues, substance use—he still persevered,” she said.
“He learned how to start [a company] from YouTube. He was a mentor in the Young Men Emerging program, built for young men who want to change their lives for the better. Stevens wants to learn and grow during incarceration,” she told Judge Edelman.
Stevens also addressed the courtroom briefly. “I express my condolences. I send all my love and blessings to y’all. Life goes on. Just keep praying,” he said.
Before delivering the sentence, Judge Edelman acknowledged the family’s pain. “Closure is what a lot of people are looking for, but court is not the best place to get it,” he said.
Stevens was sentenced to 96 months of incarceration with credit for time served, followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence will run concurrently with his prior firearm conviction.
No further dates have been set.
