DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a remorsefuldefendant to 12 years in prison on June 27 for a homicide.
On Feb. 13, Lorenzo Goldsmith, 21, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 39-year-old Aaron Robinson. The incident took place on Feb. 4, 2023, on the 1400 block of Spring Road, NW.
Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 10-to-14 years in prison.
Robinson’s family attended the sentencing hearing and said they disagree with the plea deal and presented many victim impact statements to the court.
Robinson’s oldest daughter said she was 17-years-old when her father was killed, and her younger brother was,13. She said when she graduated high school last year, all she could think about while at the ceremony was her father.
“We were robbed of the happiness his presence would have brought,” she said.
Robinson’s mother recounted looking forward to her son’s 40th birthday with a family celebration. She said the family memorialized his birthday at his gravesite.
“Aaron’s life was stolen in its prime,” she said.
Robinson’s mother said that although she does not agree with the plea agreement or the sentencing range, that she forgives Goldsmith for the crime he committed and encouraged him to lean on his faith.
Robinson’s sister addressed Goldsmith directly and described the type of person her brother was, including the countless family gatherings where Robinson would cook for the family. She said Robinson’s presence is “irreplaceable.”
“My question to you, Lorenzo, is why? Why did you kill my brother?” Robinson’s sister asked.
Robinson’s sister asked Judge Brandt to consider a higher sentence, insisting that the range was not enough. She said Goldsmith will be 39 years old after he serves 20 years in prison, which is the same age of her brother when he was murdered.
The prosecution recommended Judge Brandt sentence Goldsmith to 14 years, while the defense, Dana Page, recommended Goldsmith be sentenced to 10 years.
The prosecution explained some factors that were taken into consideration when deciding the plea agreement, including Goldsmith’s age at the time of the incident, his lack of criminal history, and the progress of his behavior since incarceration.
The prosecution showed the court camera footage from inside Robinson’s apartment building just seconds before he was shot and killed. The video showed Robinson and his fiance coming home from dinner, as Goldsmith was waiting for Robinson inside the building.
The prosecution said Goldsmith asked Robinson to go outside numerous times, and even showed Robinson he had a gun on him. Robinson eventually went outside with Goldsmith, while his fiance stayed inside the apartment building.
The prosecution said Goldsmith shot Robinson seven times, including shooting him one time after Robinson was faced down on the ground. The prosecution said Robinsons’ fiance’s reaction from inside the apartment building makes it clear when the shooting occurred.
Since then, the prosecution said Goldsmith showed remorse and a remarkable capability for rehabilitation. However, he also suffers from undiagnosed manic tendencies at the time of the incident that could have impacted his behavior, which is why Goldsmith should only be sentenced to 14 years.
Page said Goldsmith has taken accountability for his actions, has expressed remorse, and shown regret. She said Goldsmith was also suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues, like depression, at the time of the incident, which is not an excuse for what he did but an explanation, and makes the voluntary manslaughter plea appropriate.
Page said since Goldsmith’s incarceration, he has done things she has never seen or imagined from someone his age, including learning more about mental illnesses, getting his GED, taking college courses, participating on the debate team, and starting a podcast.
“I can’t express how much he has done and how amazing that is given how young he is,” Page said.
Goldsmith apologized to Robinson’s family during the hearing. He said he was also hurting from the incident, and would have understood if Robinson’s family did not forgive him, but he was glad that they did.
“First of all, I would like to say I’m sincerely sorry for your loss and all of the pain I’ve caused,” Goldsmith said.
“I’m gonna do my best to be a better man,” Goldsmith said.
Judge Brandt sentenced Goldsmith to 12 years in prison and five years of supervised release, but denied the defense’s request for sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which seals young defendants’ convictions if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.
Judge Brandt said Page could request a YRA sentence in the future, but he first has to show his continued growth and his acclimation to prison.
The judge argued the fact that Goldsmith shot Robinson, who was unarmed, seven times doesn’t call for the low end of the sentencing range. She said the violent crime was juxtaposed to the strides Goldsmith has taken in jail to improve his life, like getting his GED and mentoring other inmates, along with the fact that he has no criminal history.
Judge Brandt recommended Goldsmith for the Bureau Rehabilitation and Values Enhancement (BRAVE) program in prison for young male inmates serving their first federal sentence to help them understand their emotional problems.
Judge Brandt extended her condolences to the victim’s family.
“Aaron Robinson lost his life, and out of it, Lorenzo Goldsmith has started to be reborn,” Judge Brandt said.
No further dates were set.
