Two co-defendants accepted plea deals in connection with the fatal shooting of a victim who was sitting on a park bench before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz on Dec. 17.
Marques Johnson, 43, and Andrew Ellis, 23, were originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than a year. Ellis was additionally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The charges stem from their involvement in the fatal shooting of 56-year-old Leo Colter on Oct. 1, 2023 in McPherson Square Park on the 900 block of 15th Street, NW.
At the hearing, Johnson’s attorney, Kevin Robertson, and Ellis’ attorney, Carrie Weletz, informed Judge Kravitz that the defendants accepted a wired plea deal extended by prosecutors. The deal required Johnson and Ellis to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed in exchange for prosecutors dismissing the remaining and greater charges against them.
The prosecutor said if the case proceeded to trial they would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that on the date of the incident, Colter sat on a park bench in front of a statue in McPherson Square Park. Johnson and Ellis positioned themselves on either side of the statue and shot toward Colter.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers found Colter slumped forward on the park bench with a gunshot wound to his upper back. The MPD investigation determined two different weapons were fired and indicated the shooting resulted from a conflict between two groups who sell drugs in the area.
Johnson and Ellis did not shoot Colter in self-defense or with any other legal justification.
Judge Kravitz determined there was a factual basis and that both defendant’s entered into the plea knowingly and voluntarily.
As part of the deal, parties agreed to a sentence between 15-and 18-years of imprisonment for each defendant, followed by five years of supervised release. The agreed upon sentence range is subject to approval by Judge Kravitz.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 13, 2026.
