DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan sentenced a homicide defendant to 20 years of imprisonment for his involvement in a fatal stabbing at a gas station, during a hearing on May 22.
On Nov. 12, 2025, Tywan Morris, 30, was convicted of second-degree murder while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon, and two counts of misdemeanor possession of a prohibited weapon, for his involvement in the fatal stabbing of 27-year-old Danielle Stuckey on Oct. 17, 2021 at a gas station on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE.
Morris’ girlfriend, Key Juan Sinclair, 28, accepted a plea deal on Nov. 7, 2024 for her involvement in the incident.
During the hearing, prosecutors read a letter by Stuckey’s child, who witnessed the murder. In it, he stated he was compelled to express his deep concern about the possibility of Morris re-offending and forcing another family to sustain the pain they have endured the past five years. “He must be held accountable for his actions and made to reflect on the irreversible trauma he has imposed,” the son wrote.
“The trauma that her kids suffered behind this is something that we will never get over,” Stuckey’s mom cried. She requested Judge Ryan not show him any leniency, “because he showed none to my daughter or my grandson.”
She highlighted the fact Morris’ own infant was in his vehicle during the incident, and added “this guy has no remorse and no feeling for human life… his acts were cowardly, and he was brazen when he did it.”
“My sister, had he not ended her life, would surpass any amount of time you give him,” Stuckey’s sister stated. “He is a menace, he is a coward. What man stabs a female? He doesn’t deserve your mercy,” she told Judge Ryan.
“We just want justice,” another sister and an aunt stated.
Prosecutors requested the harshest sentence the judge could impose based on the sentencing guidelines, which ranged between 156-and-300 months for second-degree murder. They highlighted Judge Ryan’s statement that a sentencing is not meant to make the victim’s family whole, as it would be an impossible task. However, they argued, retribution and punishment is necessary.
They deemed the incident a “truly senseless act,” during which the prosecution claims Stuckey was out buying food for her children with her oldest kid, and they ran into someone she knew. “And they argued, something that people do every day and go on and live their lives.” However, the prosecutor stated, Stuckey was unable to do that, “because he [Morris] chose not to just argue with Ms. Stuckey, get in his car and leave. Instead, he made the conscious decision to seek and obtain a weapon, run her down and stab her.”
They highlighted Morris’ refusal to accept responsibility and express remorse, arguing that his statements to the pre-sentence report writer show him as he “continues to cast himself as the victim and attempts to justify his actions.”
Through the sentence, the prosecution hoped Judge Ryan would “convey to him that this is a very serious thing he has done and he cannot do anything similar in the future.”
Steven Kiersh, Morris’ attorney, argued Morris did not go to the gas station that day looking for trouble. “He simply went with his girlfriend in the car, their child in the back seat, with the sole purpose of purchasing gas.”
He stated they understand how sincerely affected the Stuckey family is by the tragic offense, but requested Judge Ryan sentence Morris to the lower end of the guidelines because he didn’t go into the incident with an intent to harm anyone.
“He is a very decent person who committed a very serious offense,” Kiersh stated, asking Judge Ryan to judge him not just on the offense, but the totality of his character.
“I apologize to the Stuckey family for the hurt that this has caused them,” Morris read. He asked Judge Ryan to recommend programs that will help with his anger management and drug issues. “Please give me the help that I need,” he said.
Judge Ryan stated that punishment, deterrence and rehabilitation are needed, but “when a person is fatally harmed, we must look at punishment and deterrence much more than rehabilitation.”
“To say this was an entirely avoidable crime is entirely accurate,” Judge Ryan said, adding “It would appear Mr. Morris just lost control in some way, and acted in a very brutal manner that ended in the horrible death of Ms. Stuckey.”
As for the request to judge Morris’ character, Judge Ryan argued “that’s not my job. My job is to look at the act that they’ve committed and sentence them for that.”
He imposed a 20 year sentence for the murder, 28 months for carrying a dangerous weapon, and 180 days for each of the misdemeanor charges. The sentences will run concurrently, and Morris will be required to serve 5 years of supervised release, pay $300 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund, and participate in anger management courses and mental health treatment.
No further dates were set.
