DC Superior Court Judge Jason Park sentenced a homicide defendant to 24 years following emotional impact statements from the victim’s family on Aug. 15.
Nyjell Outler, 22, was convicted by a jury on March 18 of voluntary manslaughter while armed, aggravated assault while armed, and two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Demetris Johnson on March 20, 2021 on the unit block of Madison Street, NE at a gender reveal party.
“[Outler] was carrying an AK-style rifle (known as a “Draco”) in a backpack. He was at the party for a little more than a half hour before the shooting,” according to an Aug. 18 release from the US Attorney’s Office.
The incident also left a surviving victim with gunshot wounds to both legs. All charges face an aggravating factor of being committed during Outler’s release for another matter.
The sentencing attracted a crowd to the courtroom, with family members of both Outler and Johnson present, in addition to at least nine US Marshals and courtroom security personnel–an increased security presence prompted by a fight among courtroom visitors during the trial.
Prosecutors requested Outler serve 35 total years of incarceration–15 years for voluntary manslaughter, 10 for aggravated assault, seven years for each possession charge to run concurrent with each other, and three years for offenses committed during release.
“This is the person you’re sentencing today,” said prosecutors and urged Judge Park to consider Outler’s actions surrounding the incident when imposing sentence. They elaborated that seven weeks before the shooting, Outler was arrested for carrying an AK-47 styled rifle, the same type of gun that killed Johnson. Prosecutors also noted that Outler disappeared for 11 months after the homicide until US Marshals found him in Florida. At one point Outler was listed as one of the agency’s 15 most wanted suspects.
Outler, according to prosecutors, had five notable infractions during his time at the DC Jail, including a sexual assault with video evidence. They also claimed Outler stabbed someone at the jail days prior to his sentencing.
Johnson’s family members provided emotional statements to the court, all requesting the maximum sentence. “When you go to a baby shower you pack your gifts, you don’t pack your gun,” expressed Johnson’s grandmother.
“This kind of pain breaks you in ways that don’t heal…I miss the version of myself I was before I lost him,” said Johnson’s mother through tears. “He was my why…the source of my strength,” she continued.
“Let him grow old in prison,” said Johnson’s mother and asked Judge Park to “protect other families from this pain.” She also emphasized she felt Outler “showed no remorse…smiling in court.”
Prosecutors concluded, “What [Outler] does is assault and kill people…he’s a danger to society.”
Gemma Stevens, Outler’s attorney, disputed prosecutors’ characterization of Outler “as the villain in this story” and said “Outler is more than the worst thing he has ever done.” Stevens requested Judge Park impose a sentence at the bottom of the guidelines.
Stevens said Outler carries a “very heavy burden” and “feels deep remorse about what happened.” Regarding Outler’s infractions in jail, Stevens claimed he’s been targeted at the jail because of this case.
Outler’s mother spoke on his behalf and asked Judge Park to “give him a chance to learn from his mistakes and be a better person.”
Through tears, Outler apologized to Johnson’s family and said “I want to take full accountability for bringing a gun.” At a loss, Outler concluded “There’s no words I can say today.”
First, Judge Park addressed the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows people under 25 who are convicted of certain crimes to have their convictions sealed or cleared after they successfully complete their sentence and potentially offers sentencing flexibility for the defendant.
Despite Outler’s young age of 18 at the time of the incident, his family’s support, and this as his first adult conviction, Judge Park denied the application of the YRA due to Outler’s problematic compliance at the jail and the seriousness of the offense.
Judge Park continued a sentence at the bottom of the guidelines would not reflect the severity of the crime. He noted that Outler was on supervised release for possessing the same type of weapon used during the murder.
Judge Park sentenced Outler to 150 months for voluntary manslaughter with 30 added months for offenses committed during release, concurrent with 114 months for the possession charge. Additionally, 84 months for aggravated assault with 24 added months for offenses committed during release, concurrent with 108 months for the possession charge.
Outler received a total sentence of 24 years of incarceration with five years of supervised release. He will also be required to register as a gun offender in DC upon his release.
No further dates were set.
