Judge Sentences Defendant to 5 Years in Prison for Voluntary Manslaughter

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During a Sept. 2 hearing, a homicide defendant was sentenced to 60-months in prison for voluntary manslaughter for the shooting death of 21-year-old Michael Taylor.

On Jan. 12, 2019, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) responded to a report of a shooting on the 1700 block of Benning Road, NE. Upon arrival, officers found three victims at the location. Taylor along with two other people, including a child, sustained significant injuries form the shooting.

Tavis Alston, 28, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on May 25. He was one of the five men, including Naquel Henderson, Carlos Turner, 23, Stephon Evans, 22, and Alonzo Brown, who are charged with Taylor’s death.

Taylor’s father made a victim impact statement. He also submitted a written victim impact statement prior to the sentencing hearing.

“Whatever sentence he gets, my son won’t come back,” Taylor’s father told DC Superior Court Judge Milton Lee during his impact statement.

“You wrote a letter to me and it is one of the most heartfelt letters I have read. I have the most upmost respect for you,” Judge Lee told Taylor’s father.

Defense attorney Marnitta King said her client has shown remorse for his actions.

“He always wanted to make it right,” she said. “I don’t think I ever had someone call me, send me letters as much as he has.”

As part of the plea deal, parties agreed to the minimum mandatory sentence.

Alston will also have to serve 5 years of supervised probation. In addition, he is required to register as a gun offender once released.

Henderson, 25, and Brown, 25, were released from DC Jail into home confinement in August.

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