A fatal shooting defendant accepted a plea offer that carries an eight-to-12 year prison sentence instead of proceeding to trial before DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson on Aug. 10.
Kevin Singletary, 48, was originally charged with first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction greater than one year for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 31-year-old Delonte Hazel on Sept. 10, 2021 on the 100 block of Kennedy Street, NW.
Singletary’s trial was scheduled to begin but, at the hearing, Singletary pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed. Under the plea deal, Singletary is subject to be sentenced between eight-and-12 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, pending Judge Dayson’s approval. Singletary will also be required to register as a gun offender.
According to the prosecution, Singletary, carrying a firearm, approached Hazel who was sitting in the driver seat of a car before fatally shooting him. Hazel was provided with medical aid at the scene and pronounced dead at a hospital from a gunshot wound. At the time of the shooting, Hazel was wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying a .45 caliber gun.
A prosecutor said that Singletary wanted to protect his former romantic partner from a potential confrontation with Hazel. The prosecution argued that Singletary’s actions did not match the level of threat Hazel posed.
Judge Dayson expected to hear victim’s impact statements but prosecutors told her that Hazel’s family declined to speak to the court. The prosecution told Dayson that Hazel’s family does not approve of the plea offer.
Parties are scheduled to reconvene for sentencing on Dec. 11.
