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By
Laura Berol
- December 16, 2024
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Robbery
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein sentenced Georgio Hyles to 17 years of incarceration and Omar Williams to 11 years on Dec. 13 for their involvement in the shooting death of 26-year-old Anthony Depetris.
Hyles, 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, and Williams, also 27, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed, as part of a plea deal in which the prosecution agreed to dismiss all other charges in the case. The counts stemmed from an attempted robbery that led to a deadly exchange of gunfire on the 3500 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE, on Nov. 5, 2021.
Teresa Kleiman, Hyles’ defense attorney, told the court Hyles intended only to rob Depetris, not to kill him, and was surprised to discover Depetris had a gun.
Kleiman said about Hyles, “He’s ready to do his time and try to do something productive while he’s there.”
Stephen LoGerfo, Williams’ attorney, said Williams was the getaway driver and didn’t even view the murder scene until he was shown police body-worn camera footage the prosecution introduced as evidence.
“[Williams] wasn’t present personally for the shooting,” said LoGerfo. “It was very shocking to Mr. Williams that this happened as a consequence of his actions.”
“I am not a bad person and am here trying to make my amends,” Williams said in a statement to the court. He listed the positive actions he has been taking while in DC Jail: earning money to help support his children, taking a parenting class so he is allowed to see them, mentoring young men and testing to enter a General Education Diploma (GED) class.
A cousin of Depetris gave a victim impact statement to the court expressing skepticism about Hyles’ and Williams’ commitment to do better with their lives.
“I’m a person from the streets. We want better when we feel the heat, when we get caught,” said Depetris’ cousin. “I know how many times I tell that story to a judge, and as soon as I get out, I go back to the same things.”
“We ain’t going to see Anthony no more,” Depetris’ cousin said. “I don’t wish death, but I don’t wish you to have a life because he don’t have one neither.”
In addition to their prison terms, Hyles and Williams were both sentenced to five years of supervised release. They must register as gun offenders, and each is required to pay $100 to the Victims of Violent Crime Fund.
“I hope you both use the time in prison, as Mr. Williams said, constructively, positively,” Judge Epstein told the defendants.
No further hearings are scheduled in this case.