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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 3, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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On Aug. 3, a DC Superior Court judge sentenced a murder defendant to 23 years in prison.
In 2017, a jury found Derryck Decuir guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm with a prior felony, carrying a firearm without a license with a prior felony, obstruction of justice and tampering with physical evidence. The jury acquitted him for the charges of attempting to commit robbery while armed against a minor and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
However, the jury could not come to an unanimous decision with regard to Decuir’s first-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence charges.
Decuir, 26, has been tried twice for allegedly shooting Malek Dayvon Mercer on the 2800 block of 28th Street, SE, in 2015.
Decuir was tried a second time in March for the murder and gun possession charges. The case resulted in a another mistrial; however, the prosecution said they plan to retry Decuir.
During his sentencing, the prosecution reiterated the facts of the case and said in 2015 Decuir left his home carrying a loaded semi-automatic firearm in violation of his probation for an unrelated case. The prosecution said that after his arrest for allegedly killing Mercer, 15, Decuir placed coded phone calls from jail to influence his friends and family to relocate the firearms, dispose of evidence and lie on his behalf.
The victim’s family was in attendance at the sentencing. During her impact statement, Mercer’s mother said that her son’s death “put a hole” in her family.
“We don’t have closure, we still don’t know what happened that night,” she said.
Prior to administering the sentence, Judge Puig-Lugo noted that Decuir demonstrated pride in owning three firearms while on probation. Apparently, Decuir uploaded pictures of the weapons on social media. Decuir also owned a 30-bullet magazine, which is commonly referred to has an extended clip.
“You (Decuir) were not defending yourself, you were preparing for an invasion,” Judge Puig-Lugo said. “This shows how little you care for the law and the court process.”
Judge Puig-Lugo ordered Decuir to undergo a mental health evaluation while incarcerated.
After his sentence, Decuir will serve five years on supervised release.