Homicide Defendant Pleads Guilty to Drug Deal Stabbing

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Consider making a donation to help us continue our mission.

DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park accepted homicide defendant Robert Stringer’s guilty plea and right to waive trial on Jan. 31.

Stringer, 57, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the stabbing death of 55-year-old Alfred Fields on July 1, 2024, on the 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE.

During the hearing, Jason Tulley, Stringer’s defense attorney, alerted the court of his intent to accept a deal, which required Stringer to plead guilty to second-degree murder in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment.

The parties agreed to a sentencing range of 15-to-20 years imprisonment.

The prosecution presented evidence that would have been used in trial, including a ripped piece of shirt, baseball cap, eyeglasses, and a recovered blood trail that was at the incident scene. However, the knife used to kill Fields was never found.

In a police interview, defendant Stringer admitted to his involvement in the crime and identified himself on surveillance footage. Stringer also stated he gave the murder weapon to a homeless man.

Additionally, it was revealed that the defendant harbored a grudge with the victim for an unpaid drug deal. A witness reported hearing Stringer utter “You ain’t gonna keep stealing from me mother****er!”

Autopsy findings report Fields’ cause of death as six sharp force injuries and the manner of death as homicide.

Judge Park ruled that Stringer’s behavior was not legally justified and done without basis of self defense.

Parties are slated to reconvene Aug. 29 for sentencing.