Homicide Co-Defendant Pleads Guilty

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A homicide defendant accepted a plea deal extended by the prosecution before DC Superior Court Judge Michael O’Keefe in an Aug. 23 hearing.

Maurice Williams, 22, was originally charged with conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed, attempt to commit a robbery while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm for his alleged involvement in a robbery and fatal shooting of 20-year-old Marquette White on Jan. 21, 2022 at the 3800 block of Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE.

Williams was also accompanied by Seaun McDowney, 20, that day and met with him to smoke weed. He previously accepted a plea deal.

According to the prosecution, they had planned to rob White of his gun and, on the night of the shooting, and McDowney watched as Williams dragged White out of a vehicle and shot him.

Through his defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, Williams accepted an offer that required him to plead guilty to second-degree murder and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges.

Through the deal, the parties agreed to a sentencing range of 13-to-20 years of incarceration.

Parties are slated to reconvene Nov. 22 for sentencing.