A defendant who fatally shot his former girlfriend pleaded guilty in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman’s courtroom on July 10.
Tyjuan Bazemore, 35, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of Nyesha Walden-Hatcher, 27, on Feb. 2 on the 3100 block of 16th Street, NW. Walden-Hatcher sustained one gunshot wound to her head and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), when Bazemore was arrested in Connecticut in March, he had pending domestic violence charges and a stay-away order from Walden-Hatcher.
Court documents state that in two 2025 domestic violence cases brought against Bazemore, Walden-Hatcher appeared to be the victim based on body-worn camera footage. Bazemore pleaded not guilty in both cases. The prosecution decided not to pursue these charges further after Bazemore’s arrest in connection to her murder.
Madalyn Harvey, Bazemore’s attorney, informed the court that her client accepted a plea offer extended by the prosecution. She said the agreement required Bazemore to plead guilty to the charge against him and determined a sentence between 16-and-20 years in prison, subject to Judge Edelman’s approval at sentencing. Prosecutors also agreed not to pursue an indictment with additional or greater charges related to the offense.
Without the plea deal, in DC the maximum penalty for second-degree murder while armed is life imprisonment, and the minimum is five years.
Judge Edelman ensured that Bazemore understood the agreement and maximum penalties, as well as the rights to a trial and to appeal that he gave up by pleading guilty. Bazemore will also need to register as a gun offender.
The prosecutor said DNA evidence, firearms evidence, and CCTV footage that placed Bazemore at the scene would have proven him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt if the case had gone to trial. Bazemore verbally confirmed that this evidence was true.
Judge Edelman also explained the 11c1c rule, which is when a plea agreement between the defense and prosecution lays out a specific sentence. It is under the judge’s discretion to accept or deny the agreement. Judge Edelman told Bazemore he’s never rejected a plea agreement.
Parties are set to reconvene on Sept. 18 for sentencing.
