In a brief Sept. 9 proceeding, Aubrey Canarte, 41, pleaded guilty to murder after DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz explained that Canarte was waiving his constitutional rights for a brazen shooting in a busy Washington neighborhood.
According to the police affidavit, at about 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 1, 2023, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to the sound of gunfire on the 100 block of Farragut Street, NW where they found Richard Ruffin III, 43, mortally wounded by as many as eight bullets.
Police were tipped off by several 911 callers who reported the incident took place in a residential area with several nearby businesses, noting that two individuals in a blue car, including Canarte, arrived at the incident scene where several people were congregating including Ruffin, seated in a lawn chair.
At that point, according to police, Ruffin was advised to get out of the area since he was known to be “beefing” with a person known as “Lil Benny.” At that point, the suspect, identified as Canarte, got out of the car with a gun in his hand. Griffin raised his hands and offered to go to an ATM in an apparent robbery, since the victim was known to be well off financially.
According to court documents, a witness reportedly heard Griffin say, “Why you bring that gun out? I’m not afraid to die!”
That’s when Canarte began shooting at Griffin and continuing firing when he was on the ground. A woman who was with Canarte in the car fled the scene.
Canvassing the scene, police recovered 13 .40 caliber cartridge casings and remnants of the victim’s clothing. However when the victim’s Chevy Camaro was searched, police found a silver Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol with a 14-round magazine.
Again, according to a witness, Carnate and Griffin had a history in that Carnate allegedly pulled a gun on the victim in May 2023 at a candlelight vigil for a friend. Carnate had also been implicated in an earlier shooting and reportedly had many other run-ins with the law. In fact, the pair were co-defendants in a drug case in 2005 and served prison terms for the infraction.
Based on a series of phone and witness interviews as well as surveillance video officers identified Carnate as a person of interest.
During the hearing, Judge Kravitz detailed the prosecution’s plea agreement worked out with Carnate and his attorney, Elizabeth Weller. As part of the deal, Carnate gave up his right to trial and a subsequent appeal if convicted.
In return, Carnate admitted he was guilty of second-degree murder, and for their part the prosecution would drop the pending first-degree murder charge and won’t ask a grand jury to indict Carnate on greater charges.
Subject to the judge’s approval, Carnate would serve 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release. However, the maximum sentence under DC law would be 40 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
The prosecutor, in her proffer, noted the premeditation of the act in which Carnate parked his car and deliberately walked toward Griffin, shot him several times and kept shooting as the victim fell to the ground.
“You intended to kill or injure Mr. Ruffin,” said the prosecutor. “You did not shoot him in self-defense.”
When Judge Kravitz asked Carnate how he intended to plead, his response was simply “guilty.”
Judge Kravitz accepted the plea and set sentencing for Dec. 11.
