A defendant accepted a plea deal for a 2020 homicide before DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on March 6.
Taiyonne Goggins, 28, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in a shooting at the 1600 block of W Street, SE on Oct. 9, 2020, that killed Yisa Jeffcoat, 28. Jeffcoat sustained a single gunshot wound to his chest.
At the hearing, Goggins’ attorney, Wole Falodun, confirmed toJudge Ryan that his client accepted a plea deal from prosecutors. The agreement required Goggins to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to not seek an indictment with additional charges and limit their sentence to eight-to-nine years of imprisonment, subject to Judge Ryan’s approval at sentencing. Goggins must also register as a gun offender in DC.
The prosecutors said that if the case had proceeded to trial, they would have proven that Goggins exited a car with two other armed individuals and fired into a crowd of people in a residential area. There was no legal justification for Goggins’ actions.
Judge Ryan questioned Goggins to ensure that he knowingly and willingly pleaded guilty.
Goggins’ sentencing hearing is set for June 5.
