Judge Sentences Co-Defendants in a 2018 Homicide Case

By D.C. Witness Staff - September 22, 2020
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A DC Superior Court judge sentenced two co-defendants in a homicide case that dates back to 2018. 

Titus Iracks, 19, and Dearren Dawkins, 24, were involved with the murder of Larry Harrell, who died on June 13, 2018, on the 1200 block of Mount Olivet Road, NE. Harrell, 43, was fatally shot in the course of an armed robbery gone wrong. 

The defendants were originally charged with first-degree murder in August 2018. The following March, they were indicted on 10 counts, including felony murder and armed robbery. 

The two accepted a plea deal in November. Both of them pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. Also, Dawkins pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior conviction while armed and Iracks pleaded guilty to carrying a pistol without a license. 

During the Sept. 22 sentencing, Harrell’s family and friends described him as a loving and caring individual, who is greatly missed. 

Iracks and Dawkins apologized to the victim’s loved ones and asked for their forgiveness. 

Iracks’ defense attorney, Ronald Resetarits, said his client had a turbulent upbringing in an unstable environment. He also said Iracks’ his background did not excuse his client’s behavior, but explains why it happened.

Resetarits said Iracks had taken advantage of his time at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), explaining that Iracks has graduated high school, wrote seven chapters of a book and regularly helped out staff.

Judge Danya A. Dayson sentenced Iracks to 8.5 years in prison plus five years of supervised release for the manslaughter charge and nine months plus five years of supervised release for the pistol charge. The sentences will run concurrently, and he will receive credit for time served. 

Judge Dayson sentenced Dawkins to 9.5 years plus five years of supervised release for the manslaughter charge and one year plus five years of supervised release for the firearm charge. Like with Iracks, the sentences will run concurrently. 

Iracks and Dawkins were in the parking lot of a convenience store looking to rob people of money and synthetic marijuana, according to court documents. The co-defendants confronted the victim, Harrell, at gunpoint and tried to rob him. Finding nothing, they released him and he ran off and hid behind a dumpster. The co-defendants suspected Harrell had a gun. Dawkins killed Harrell. Shortly after, Iracks was given the gun and fired shots into the air that did not hit the victim. 

Dawkins and Iracks must pay $100 to the Crime Victim’s Compensation fund for each of their charges.