‘A Piece of My Heart Will Always be Gone,’ Says Murder Victim’s Mother

By Carolyn Flammini , Ayda Atici [former] - February 21, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On Feb. 21, DC Superior Court Judge Meribeth Raffinan accepted a plea deal and sentenced a  defendant to 15 years for a 2015 homicide. 

Derryck Decuir, 31, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed against a minor, three charges of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, attempt to commit robbery while armed against a minor, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, obstruction of justice, and tampering with evidence for his alleged involvement in the shooting of 15-year-old Malek Mercer.

The incident occurred on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE, on June 16, 2015. 

Decuir had been found guilty of the charges, but the District of Columbia Court of Appeals reversed that conviction in November of 2022 due to an admission of erroneous testimony.

Defense attorney Dana Page informed the court that Decuir wanted to enter a guilty plea for the charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed against a minor. 

She stated that while the maximum sentence for this charge was 45 years of incarceration, and the mandatory minimum sentence was 5 years of incarceration, the defense and prosecution had agreed to request 15 years of incarceration and 5 years of supervised release. This sentence would run concurrently with his other sentence of 23 years of incarceration for obstruction of justice and evidence tampering.

The more serious charges of second-degree murder while armed against a minor and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction would be dismissed.

During the hearing, Mercer’s mother spoke to the court with forgiveness stating, “A piece of my heart will always be gone [but]“I do not hate Mr. Decuir” and wishing he receives help with rehabilitation during his incarceration.

Decuir addressed the court and the victim’s mother, thanking her for her forgiveness and apologizing for his crimes. 

Judge Raffinan granted the parties’ request and sentenced Decuir to 15 years of incarceration and 5 years of supervised release to run concurrent with his other sentence.

Decuir is also required to register as a gun offender.

No further dates were set for this matter.