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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- September 27, 2019
Court
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Daily Stories
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Documents
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Homicides
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Juveniles
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Suspects
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Victims
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The fiancée of a victim said the entire family has been torn a part since his murder.
DC Superior Court Judge Lynn Leibovitz found a juvenile was responsible for the charges of second-degree murder while armed, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition for the murder of 23-year-old Jamal Kwame Crump on the 1300 block of Monroe Avenue, NW on Feb. 27.
“We go to counseling as a family at least two times a week because of what happened,” Crump’s fiancée said during the disposition. “Jamal being a trusting person got him killed and that is wrong on so many levels and the immense grief has been overwhelming.”
Crump’s fiancée also said that Crump and the defendant were supposed to be friends because of their Muslim faith.
The prosecution asked that the juvenile defendant be held at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) until 21 years old.
“Supervision in the community is not enough given how heinous this crime was,” said the prosecutor.
The prosecutor said because the juvenile had not been compliant in DYRS and was trying to evade police during the murder investigation, he needed to spend the maximum amount of time committed in order to rehabilitate.
“The defendant wants to improve … and move forward from this,” said the defense attorney.
The defense said that because the juvenile had such a great family structure, the defendant should be committed until 18. The defense also said the juvenile has shown signs of leadership while committed and would like to keep in contact with an attorney in order to finish high school.
“It’s startling to know someone this young committed this murder,” said Judge Leibovitz.
Judge Leibovitz committed the juvenile to DYRS until 21. “It is the best course of action not only because of the seriousness of the crime but because the juvenile clearly has some mental health challenges to overcome.”
During the trial, D.C. Witness previously reported that a witness said the juvenile wasn’t concerned with any repercussions from the murder. “Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be alright. I’ll just go down to the C (Youth Corrective Services) and get out when I’m 21,” the witness said the juvenile told him.