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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 21, 2018
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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A DC Superior Court judge sentenced Aug. 17 a man to 15 years in prison for his involvement in what she called a “senseless” murder.
In May, Demarius Jackson accepted a plea offer and pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon for the death of 19-year-old Kennedy Amaya-Olivares.
According to a proffer of facts, in July of 2017, Jackson, 25, and his girlfriend and friends went to the DC Waterfront, 3500 block of Water Street, NW, where they encountered Amaya-Olivares and his friends. According to the prosecution, the groups engaged in a verbal altercation that escalated into a “juvenile fight over heated words fueled by summer heat and intoxication.”
The prosecutor said that outside of a broken glass bottle there were no other weapons present at the fight, until Jackson pulled out a gun and shot Amaya-Olivares three times. Jackson also shot an unnamed male twice, he sustained non-life threatening injuries. Police pronounced Amaya-Olivares dead on the scene.
The prosecution asked that Jackson be given the maximum sentence, 16 years.
On Aug. 21, during the sentencing, both Jackson and Amaya-Olivares’ families were present. Amaya-Olivares’ sister spoke on behalf of her family.
“Sixteen years is not enough for us,” she said. “ Life wouldn’t even be enough for us.”
Jackson addressed the court and apologized for his actions. He explained that he initially thought his girlfriend was in danger, but acknowledged that his actions were excessive.
“I made a terrible and rash decision and I’m man enough to admit it,” he said.
Jackson’s defense attorney, Lee Goebes, told the court that his client had an undiagnosed mental illness associated with the grief of losing multiple family members.
Jackson told the court that his little sister died of cancer in 2015 and later that year his cousin was killed from senseless violence. Jackson also said he learned that his uncle had died before going to the Waterfront the night he fatally shot Amaya-Olivares.
Subsequently, Judge Danya Dayson said that the word “senseless” sums up the actions that took place the night of Amaya-Olivares’ murder. Prior to sentencing Jackson, she noted that Jackson was on probation at the time of the shooting, and therefore not permitted to carry a gun.
Following his release, Jackson will serve five years on probation.