A defendant accepted a plea deal for a murder that stemmed from a robbery of a marijuana dispensary before DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park on March 9.
Trenton Collins, 23, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, robbery while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior crime of violence. The charges stem from his involvement in the fatal shooting incident of 41-year-old Phillip Prendergast on the 5100 block of Georgia Avenue, NW on March 27, 2024.
According to court records, Collins’ trial was scheduled for June 2027, and parties were in plea negotiations since May 2025, with no sign of an agreement between them.
At the hearing, Collins accepted a plea deal that required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss any greater and remaining charges against Collins.
The plea deal included an agreed upon sentence range of 13-to-20 years of imprisonment, subject to Judge Park’s approval at sentencing.
The prosecution said that the evidence would have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Collins and his accomplice entered a marijauna dispensary, both armed and masked, and demanded two employees give them money and weed. The prosecutors said one of the suspects was captured on video, taking Prendergast into the back and shooting him before continuing the robbery.
According to prosecutors, physical evidence was collected from Collins’ residence, including a firearm, gloves, and shoes possibly used during the incident. DNA testing positively matched Collins’ DNA on the firearm magazine and the shoes.
Collins’ attorney, David Akulian, and the prosecutor disputed whether Collins was the shooter or an aider and abbeter to his accomplice. Judge Park said he would hear arguments from both sides during sentencing as to Collins’ role in the murder.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for sentencing on May 29.
