Homicide Defendant Who Killed Victim in Broad Daylight in Front of Minors Sentenced to 13-Years in Prison

By Bersabel Ephrem [former] - January 26, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt sentenced a homicide defendant to 13 years in prison for the murder of his sister’s children’s father.

Jarell Harris, 28, fatally shot 42-year-old Sedrick Miller on March 4, 2022, on the 2000 block of 18th Street, NE. Miller was carrying a baby and holding the hand of a 5-year-old-girl when he was murdered, according to court documents. Harris was arrested a month later and held at DC Jail.

Harris, who was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, was indicted in September of 2022, for voluntary manslaughter while armed.

The prosecution stated that Harris entered a plea of guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed on September 22, 2022, and as a condition of that plea, the parties agreed to a sentence of between 10.5 years and 13 years in prison.

According to the proffer of facts, Harris shot the vicim 11 times with several of the shots to the face. Harris can be seen firing repeatedly while standing over the victim in a surveillance camera image.

The prosecution noted that Harris entered a very early guilty plea before the preliminary hearing, which she noted was rare. She said Harris did so because he didn’t want to subject his sister’s children to a trial.

She requested Judge Brandt sentence Harris to 13 years in prison and 5 years on supervised release.

The victim’s sister read an impact statement over Webex.

“Over the years my brother and I had several conversations about his relationship with his girlfriend,” she said. “He stated to me that if anything happened to him it would be because of Jarell.”

“You shot my brother 10-13 times in the same area my sister was killed 29 years earlier. I just want to know why. What had your mind make up to take his life,” she continued.

Harris’s defense attorney, Jacqueline Cadman, requested Judge Brandt sentence Harris to 10.5 years in prison.

Harris and Miller had a terrible history, according to Cadman, which caused the relationship to deteriorate.

“I want to start by saying I am very very sorry to the courts and to the family of the victim,” Harris said. “At the time, I felt threatened but there is no excuse for my actions that day I am just sorry.”

Judge Brandt sentenced Miller to 13 years in prison with 5 years of supervised release. He will have to register as a gun offender and undergo mental health and drug treatment.

“I appreciate the words that you just said. I do believe you are really sorry,” Judge Brandt said. “The support was there. Your parents are married and are employed. They raised seven kids with some even being police officers and a school teacher. I keep scratching my head about what went wrong. Mr. Miller was apart of your family. He was the father of your sister’s children. The same children that witnessed you shooting their father 11 times. Use this time to reflect, read and good luck to you sir.”