DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman sentenced a murder defendant to 16 years in prison on July 9.
On April 23, Tyriq Williams, 34, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed, for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Terry Clark on Jan. 7, 2023 on the 1200 block of Half Street, SE.
Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 14-to-18 years of imprisonment. Clark’s cousin and his mother. His cousin described that Clark had a “special gift for making people feel warmth and love.” Clark’s cousin explained that the loss of Clark has left a wound on the family that has followed them.
Clark’s mother and cousin presented victim impact statements in court, “It doesn’t just take away life, it also robs families of simple things like ice cream after dinner,” said his cousin.
Clark’s mother also came forward, asking the courtroom why her son died? There was no answer.
The prosecution described Clark as a happy, loving person who was killed in a senseless act of violence. They requested Judge Edelman impose 216 months of incarceration due to the serious nature of the offense and the lack of mitigating circumstances.
The prosecution claimed that Williams’ actions were not the result of undiagnosed PTSD, noting that he appeared calm and collected before and after the shooting.
Williams’ defense attorney, Kevin Mosley, expressed sympathy for Clark’s family. “No sentence will bring Terry back,” he stated, noting that, while Williams made a terrible choice, his own exposure to gun violence affected his response to Clark’s behavior.
Mosley claimed that Clark had been acting erratically the night of the incident, and Williams perceived his behavior as a threat. “The way you perceive things is impacted by your past trauma,” he said.
Williams offered his sincere apology to Clark’s family, saying “I’m very, very sorry for what I’ve done.”
The defense proposed Williams receive a sentence of 14 years, and as requested he will be sent to a facility within 180 miles from DC.
Judge Edelmann expressed his deep sympathy for Clark’s family. “I’ve learned, 15 years up here, regardless of sentence, I’m unable to bring someone back,” he said.
Williams graduated high school, had strong family support, and maintained employment, according to Judge Edelman. This was Williams’ first contact with the criminal justice system.
Judge Edelman sentenced the defendant to 192 months of confinement, followed by five years of supervised release. The judge required he seek mental health assessment and treatment during his incarceration. Williams will receive credit for time served.
No further dates have been set.
