Homicide Defendant Accepts Plea Deal for Voluntary Manslaughter

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A homicide defendant accepted a plea deal from prosecutors during a Sept. 3 preliminary hearing before D.C. Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe.

Damon Clark, 27, was originally charged with second-degree murder while armed for the March 8 death of Jimmy Thomas Jr., 46, following an altercation on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE.

According to court documents, witnesses testified that Clark and Thomas continued an earlier argument that led to the shooting.

Clark pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment. The deal includes a sentencing range of seven-and-a-half-to-11-and-a-half years.

According to the prosecution, Thomas’ family plans to attend the sentencing hearing on Nov. 8 to oppose the plea offer.