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By
Zachary Poe
- June 9, 2025
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Prosecutors alerted DC Superior Court Judge Neal Kravitz they had extended a wired plea offer to three homicide co-defendants during a hearing on June 6. The trio would have to mutually agree on the terms for the agreement to be valid.
Tyler Stringfield, 26, Raymond Avent, 25, and Keith Baham, 25, are charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of destruction of property $1000 or more, fleeing a law enforcement officer, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, conspiracy, two counts of possession of an unregistered firearm, two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, leaving after colliding property damage/injury to animal, destruction of property less than $1000, and two counts of carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business.
The shooting left 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins dead on March 23, 2019, on the 1200 block of Brentwood Road NE.
The prosecution proposed a deal in which all three defendants would plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed and carrying a pistol without a license in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. Through the deal, parties would agree to a 16 year sentence. According to prosecutors, Baham would have faced an 18-year sentence, but that was reduced after one of his prior convictions was vacated.
Baham’s attorneys, Morgan Leigh and Brian Shefferman, claimed that they had reached a verbal agreement with prosecutors on the plea deal, which is expected to be formalized soon. Attorneys Megan Allburn and Steven Kiersh, representing Stringfield, stated that they are also in active discussions. Avent’s counsel, Elizabeth Weller, stated that she has not yet had the opportunity to confer with the defendant about the updated offer.
Judge Kravitz granted additional time for the defense to make a decision. Prosecutors estimate that a trial would take approximately three weeks if the plea deals are rejected. Defense attorneys agree with that estimate.
The next status hearing is scheduled for June 27.