DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a defendant in a fatal stabbing case to eight-and-a-half years of incarceration during an Oct. 31 hearing.
On Aug. 28, Shaneka Jackson, 42, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a prohibited weapon for her involvement in the fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Gray Hall on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE, on Sept. 1, 2024. Another individual also sustained injuries during the incident.
Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of four-to-ten years for manslaughter, and one year for possession of a prohibited weapon. It was up to the judge to decide if the sentences would run concurrently or consecutively.
According to court documents, Hall died from a singular stab wound to his back that injured his left lung and rib.
During the hearing, the prosecution laid out the facts of the case, explaining that there was a fist fight between several individuals. Hall was a peacemaker, who tried to break up the fight, according to the prosecution.
The prosecution argued that Jackson escalated the fist fight by bringing a knife, which she held for several minutes before stabbing Hall’s girlfriend twice and Hall once. She did this in front of her children, according to the prosecution.
The prosecution allowed 17 family members to deliver victim impact statements.
A graduate of Hampton University, Hall touched all of the lives around him, according to his family. He went to Africa to plant trees, taught his girlfriend’s son French, and prepared a special birthday song for his great grandmother’s 107th birthday. He was an active member of Jack and Jill of America, providing mentorship for Black families.
“You killed an angel,” a friend of the family said, referring to Jackson. “He was light, joy, and laughter. He was the heartbeat of his family and you stole him from us.”
Hall’s loved ones were left to grieve the wonderful man he was. His girlfriend, a victim of the stabbing, can no longer sleep without medication and her son asks everyday for his dad to come back from heaven.
His great-grandmother reflected on their time together in her statement, from reading children’s books in the back of her granddaughter’s car to sitting on the patio together on warm days.
Three weeks before his death, the family celebrated her birthday, and he embraced her saying “I’m going to see you real soon Memaw.” She said she grieves the loss of her eldest great-grandson everyday, devastated that she outlived him.
In a statement for the court, Hall’s brother shared his devastation and a feeling of deep responsibility as his parents’ last living son. His sister has dreams of inventing time travel to say ‘I love you” one more time to her brother. She cherishes memories of him putting her on his shoulders during a music festival and taking photos with her high school diploma.
Each family member argued that Jackson should serve the maximum sentence of 11 years. They shared that anything less would not be representative of the loss the community suffered.
“Show the community that a young Black life has value under the law,” a friend of the family said. “Justice must be served fully and without compromise.”
The family shared their disappointment that Hall was killed by someone nearly twice his age, who they argue should have been more emotionally mature. As a mother, they hoped Jackson would have the best interest of her children and other mothers’ children in mind.
Upon mention of Jackson by Hall’s family, members of Jackson’s family began to exit the courtroom.
The prosecution requested the maximum sentence of 11 years, explaining that the average sentence for voluntary manslaughter is 10 years in DC. When asked by Judge Edelman why they extended a plea agreement, the prosecution explained that they were not willing to risk an acquittal as it would be devastating for the family.
Defense attorney Joseph Yarbough explained that Jackson has experienced difficult circumstances. She was forced to move into the house where the incident occurred because her public housing had no running water and heat.
Yarbough also explained that Jackson has a long history of drug abuse, stemming from her parents’ detention for the use of drugs when she was a child. During the incident, Jackson had synthetic marijuana, also known as K2, and Molly–MDMA– in her system.
Yarbough explained that the defendant was attacked by Hall’s girlfriend, backing her into a corner. She armed herself with a knife to ward off future attacks, according to the defense.
Yarbough explained that Jackson was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to the many assaults she experienced. She lost two of her romantic partners and fathers of her children due to homicide. Jackson is a single mom of four children, including one child with a disability and twin adolescent boys, and she had no time to take care of her trauma.
When her boyfriend rushed into the fight, Yarbough explained that her PTSD was triggered. Yarbough argued that PTSD is associated with hyper-vigilance and impulsive actions, which led her to perceive danger and engage in the fight to save him.
Yarbough argued that Jackson had no intention to kill Hall and only was trying to stop him, demonstrated by the fact that she only stabbed him once.
Yarbough explained that Jackson experienced sufficient punishment. She hopes to never be separated from her children again.
Yarbough argued that Jackson has worked on rehabilitating since day one. She has received treatment for her PTSD and completed the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program, where she is now a mentor for other participants. Jackson has taken several courses such as anger management and parenting.
Yarbough argued for the minimum sentence of four years, with the sentences running concurrently, and explained that Jackson would have the support of her family and organizations such as the Hope Foundation for the rehabilitation process.
Judge Edelman sentenced Jackson to eight-and-a-half years for the voluntary manslaughter charge and one year for the weapons charge. The charges will run concurrent to one another.
Judge Edelman said that four years would not be enough time for the damage Jackson caused. Simultaneously, he was issued a set of facts in the plea deal that Jackson had acted in “imperfect self-defense” and that her fear was unreasonable but present.
Judge Edelman also took into consideration that Jackson has no prior conviction or history of violent offenses.
“This is the worst thing that she’s ever done but it doesn’t define her,” Edelman said. “But she also must be held accountable for it.”
When exiting the court room, Jackson’s family announced their support for their loved one.
“We love you, free you. Your boys need you,” Jackson’s loved one said.
Parties are not slated to reconvene.
