Three homicide co-defendants accepted a prosecution offer, pleading guilty to second degree-murder before DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz during a June 27 hearing.
Tyler Stringfield, 23, Raymond Avent, 24, and Keith Baham, 26, were originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of destruction of property $1000 or more, fleeing a law enforcement officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, conspiracy, two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, leaving after colliding property damage/injury to animal, destruction of property less than $1000, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
The charges stem from their involvement in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins on March 23, 2019, on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road, NE.
The prosecution offer required them to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed and carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for the prosecution’s dismissing all other charges.
Also through the deal, prosecutors agreed to dismiss Avent’s case in which he is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for allegedly stabbing another inmate on June 3, 2021 in the DC Jail, and Baham’s other case, in which he is charged with assault with intent to kill for his alleged involvement in another jail stabbing on Feb. 16, 2020.
Parties agreed to a sentence of 11 years for Baham, 12 years for Stringfield, and 16 for Avent.
Sentencing is slated for Sept. 9.
