During a July 7 hearing, a murder defendant rejected a plea offer in connection to a 2021 shooting.
Shaka Haltiwanger is charged with second-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 39-year-old Anthony Kelly on Sept. 10, 2021, on the 1400 Block of 29th Street, SE. Kelly suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest and succumbed to his injuries later that day.
Defense attorney Wole Falodun said Haltiwanger, 23, isn’t interested in pursuing a plea offer.
“It is our preference at this point to set a trial date,” Wole told the court.
If Haltiwanger would have accepted the plea offer, the charges would have been reduced to one count of second-degree murder.
Originally, DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt scheduled Haltiwanger to begin trial in October. However, since the defendant switched counsel in June, Falodun was granted more time to become familiar with the case.
Judge Brandt scheduled Haltiwanger to begin trial on March 6, 2023.
Haltiwanger will remain detained at DC Jail as he awaits an Oct. 7 hearing.
