Defendant Pleads Not Guilty to Traffic Fatality

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 23, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

The passenger in this 2017 traffic collision died. The driver is being charged with second-degree murder.

During his arraignment, a man pled not guilty to second-degree murder for allegedly killing a woman when he drove into a Hess gas station pole while under the influence.

Lavonne Beckett allegedly told police that he smoked a PCP-laced cigarette on August 5, 2017, during a stop in Maryland. His car later hit a pole on the 600 block of Florida Ave., NE.

According to the Metropolitan Police Department, a bystander pulled Beckett out of his car, which caught on fire. Fire crews also activated an emergency fuel cutoff to secure the scene. His passenger, Tanisha Ray, age unknown, died at the scene.

He is currently released through the High Intensity Supervision Program (HISP). Beckett was placed on HISP in January.

The prosecution said they planned to submit a plea offer that would allow Beckett to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Beckett’s defense attorney, Craig Hickein, requested Beckett’s next status hearing be held in four weeks. Hickein said he needed more time to review discovery materials provided by the prosecution.

Beckett’s next status hearing is set for June 26.