Judge Sentences Codefendants in Shooting

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A judge sentenced two defendants Dec.14 for their roles in a homicide that transpired after one of the defendants and the victim “happened to bump shoulders.”

In October, Justin Robinson and Kevin Grover pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill and second-degree murder, respectively, for their roles in the shooting death of 22-year-old Demetrius Medlay on the 3100 block of MLK, Jr. Avenue, SE in 2016.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff sentenced Robinson, 19, to five years in prison and Grover, 26, to 20 years in prison. Robinson, who was 16 years old at the time of the murder, was sentenced under the Juvenile Rehabilitation Act.

According to the prosecution, on the day of the murder, Robinson and Medlay “happened to bumped shoulders” at a Smiley Mart on Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. The two got into an argument. Apparently, Robinson left and returned to the area with a gun that included an extended magazine. The prosecutor said Robinson was waving the gun and yelling at Medlay but eventually got in a car and drove away.

A short distance away, Robinson told Grover, “ You can smoke him.” Shortly after Grover arrived on the scene, he shot Medlay twice in the chest.

During the sentencing, Medlay’s mother addressed the court and said that she has seen no remorse from either defendant.

“He was my child and they had no right,” the mother said. “ I will never let him be forgotten.”

Robinson later addressed the victim’s family, saying they should have sympathy for him because he knows what it is like to lose a family member. “Everybody goes throughout situations like this, especially in our neighborhood,” he said.

According to Robinson’s defense attorney, Robinson, who lost a brother to gun violence, had just returned from the funeral when he entered the market. Robinson’s attorney said his client believed he was standing up for himself.

Grover also spoke during the hearing and apologized to the family, saying “ I’m not going to sit (here) like I’m an angel and don’t deserve this.”

Following their release, Robinson will be required to serve three additional years on supervised release. Grover will have to serve five additional years on supervised release.

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