Homicide Defendant Accepts Plea Offer

By Mona Walls - March 18, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 15, before DC Superior Court Robert Okun, a homicide defendant accepted a plea offer extended by the prosecution.

Raymond Avent, 24, is one of three individuals charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, among other charges, for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Rafiq Hawkins on March 23, 2019, on the 1200 Block of Brentwood, NE. 

Elizabeth Weller, Avent’s defense attorney, alerted the court that Avent was accepting a plea offer extended by prosecutors, which required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed and carrying a pistol without a license, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

The offer also included the dismissal of a 2021 case, in which Avent was charged with one count of assault with intent to kill and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, among other charges. 

Through the plea offer, the parties agreed to a 16-year sentence. 

The prosecution says that Avent’s remaining charges will be dismissed at the time of sentencing.

Judge Okun says he needs time to decide if he is going to accept the plea, however, he stated he is conditionally accepting the plea at this time. 

Parties will reconvene for sentencing on June 14.