DC Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean sentenced a carjacking defendant to two years, time suspended on Feb. 13.
On Oct. 3, 2025, Shannara Macku, 38, pleaded guilty to the destruction of property $1,000 or more, first-degree theft, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle for her involvement in a carjacking on Oct. 19, 2024 on the 2400 block of 18th Street, NW.
According to court documents, Macku crashed into the tire of a car while she was riding a bike. The driver and the five Uber passengers in the car abandoned the vehicle as Macku jumped into the driver’s seat and fled with the vehicle.
The prosecutor requested that Macku serve three years in prison given how her conduct affected the Uber driver and passengers in the car; nonetheless, acknowledging that her mental health history would make her a candidate for probation after her sentence.
Destiny Fullwood-Singh, Macku’s attorney, said that her client was on the precipice of a mental break at the time of the incident. Fullwood-Singh emphasized that no one was in the car when Macku got into the driver’s seat.
Fullwood-Singh requested that Macku serve 10 months in a structured mental health program where her needs would be adequately met and her condition improve. Instead of incarceration, “Ms. Macku has a better option,” Full-Wood Singh said and asserted that when placed in a stable, structured environment and medication readily available, Macku thrived.
Judge McLean agreed with Fullwood-Singh that because of Macku’s mental health, she would be better off receiving treatment. She sentenced Macku to 12 months for destruction of property, and six months each for first-degree theft and the unauthorized use of a vehicle. The sentences will run consecutively, all suspended, in favor of two years of probation.
Requirements of Macku’s probation include maintaining medical treatment and prescribed medications, drug testing, job training, housing assistance, and mental health evaluation. If she fails to complete the requirements, Macku will be required to serve two years of imprisonment.
No further dates were set.
