Fatal Stabbing Defendant Pleads Guilty, Victim’s Son Delivers Impact Statement

By Joseph Wolf - November 12, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

After a defendant in a fatal stabbing case pleaded guilty in front of DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Nov. 7, the stabbing victim’s son delivered an impact statement.

Keyjuana Sinclair, 27, was originally charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon outside her home or business, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon for her involvement in the lethal stabbing of Danielle Stuckey on Oct. 17, 2021, on the 2800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE. 

Sinclair pleaded guilty to carrying a dangerous weapon and simple assault as part of a plea agreement, in return for the prosecution’s dismissing the remaining charges in the case.

Tywan Morris, 29, is charged with second-degree murder while armed, carrying a dangerous weapon outside his home or business, and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon for his alleged involvement in the same incident. He has pleaded not guilty in the matter.

According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived at the scene to discover Stuckey suffering from a stab wound. She was taken to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

Arrest documents report Stuckey’s death resulted from a verbal altercation that turned physical when Sinclair swung a knife at Stuckey. Stuckey’s 12-year-old son attempted to help his mother until Sinclair lunged at him with the knife. Morris kicked Stuckey, causing her to fall on her back, then kicked her head and stabbed her in the left side. Morris fled after Stucky’s son hit him with a piece of luggage.

Sinclair’s attorney, Peter Cooper, told the court Sinclair’s plea deal also encompassed a misdemeanor case. Sinclair was pleading guilty to attempted possession of a prohibited weapon in return for the prosecution’s dismissing all other charges in that case.

Sinclair was originally charged with attempted threats to do bodily harm and attempted possession of a prohibited weapon for her involvement in an incident on the 3300 block of Wheeler Road, SE, on May 4. No injuries were reported.

According to court documents, Sinclair walked up to a group of juveniles and yelled, “I will stab you.”

An officer from the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) alerted Judge Raffinan that Sinclair has a notice of noncompliance against her. Sinclair violated her conditions of release by leaving home confinement to go to the store. 

The prosecution asked Judge Raffinan to revoke Sinclair’s release, arguing she is a habitual offender and has pleaded guilty to a serious crime.

Cooper asked Judge Raffinan to modify Sinclair’s conditions of release, allowing her to go to the store so she can provide for her children. 

Stuckey’s son gave an impact statement to the court, saying the plea deal and conditions of release are very lenient and the case has gone on for a long time. He reminded the court that he was twelve at the time of his mother’s murder, and he stood before them now as a fifteen-year-old boy. 

“Defendants have kids. So did my mother,” Stucky’s son said, suggesting the court should remember how Sinclair deprived him of a mother’s support when weighing Sinclair’s desire to support her children.

Judge Raffinan announced she would take his speech into consideration. She did not modify or revoke Sinclair’s bond, but reminded Sinclair she can only leave home to pick up or drop off her kids at school.

Parties in the Morris matter are slated to reconvene on Jan. 14, 2025.

Parties in the Sinclair matter are slated to reconvene on March 7, 2025.