Defendant Pleads Guilty to 2015 Murder

By D.C. Witness Staff - March 4, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a status hearing March 1, a defendant accused of robbing and murdering a man in 2015 accepted a plea deal.

Ammaad Chase-El pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with the intent to commit robbery while armed for his role in the death of 34-year-old Antonio Ayala between 13th and Van Buren Street, NW. Brothers Javonte Odom and Herman Odom were also charged with Ayala’s murder.

Per the terms of the plea agreement, the prosecution would downgrade Chase-El’s first-degree murder charge to voluntary manslaughter. In addition, the prosecution added the assault with the intent to commit robbery charge.

Chase- El, 26, currently resides at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, DC’s psychiatric hospital.

According to Chase- El’s defense attorney Elliott Queen, Chase-El doesn’t remember the murder because of his mental disabilities. As a result, Queen said Chase-El entered an Alford plea, which means he does not admit to committing the murder but is choosing to plead guilty because he believes prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him.

Queen also said he plans to submit forms that could allow Chase-El to be sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act if he is found eligible.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson said Chase-El will remain at St. Elizabeth’s until his sentencing, which is scheduled on May 17. 

The prosecution says that Chase-El and the Odom brothers assaulted Ayala with the intention of robbing him and shot him in the process.

Javonte, 23, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and assault with the intent to commit robbery and was sentenced to 18 years in March 2018. Herman, 25, is charged with first-degree murder while armed and is scheduled for a status hearing on May 3.