A defendant originally charged with second-degree murder entered a plea agreement for gun possession before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on July 15.
Niko Lancaster, 26, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Levon Livingston, 29, on the 1200 block of Valley Avenue, SE on April 12. Livingston sustained two gunshot wounds in his chest and back.
According to court documents, Livingston and his wife reportedly had ongoing domestic violence issues. Livingston allegedly arrived at his wife’s home and broke through her bedroom window before she asked him to leave because she had company, namely Lancaster. An altercation between Lancaster and Livingston allegedly ensued, and shots were fired.
At his preliminary hearing to hear the evidence agains him, Lancaster agreed to plead guilty to carrying a pistol without a license outside of a home or business. His attorney, Kevin Mosley, noted that the charge carries a maximum of five years in prison. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the murder charge against Lancaster.
After Lancaster acknowledged the rights he waived, the prosecution revealed the evidence they expected would have proved his guilt at trial.
Prosecutors said that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a 911 call about a shooting on April 12. Lancaster traveled to the location of the shooting on public transportation while carrying a pistol without a license. Prosecutors told the court that no one in Livingston’s wife’s home owned pistols.
Lancaster agreed with the prosecution’s account of the evidence.
Since his last hearing on April 28, Lancaster has been on release. Judge Park mentioned that he had received a notice of compliance from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA), which noted that he adhered to his release conditions of GPS monitoring.
Parties are slated to reconvene for sentencing on Sept. 18.
