Judge sentences man to 27 years for Anacostia River Trail homicide

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 23, 2018
Court | Featured | Homicides | Suspects |

Judge Judith Bartnoff sentenced Wandell Roy to 27 years in prison for fatally shooting Victor Williams while he was walking his two dogs on the Anacostia River Trail in July of 2017.

These are really incredibly sad situations. I can’t fix this, if I could I would,” Bartnoff told several of Williams’ family members who not only presented letters of impact, but also shared tearful memories of their lost loved one.

“This has broken my family in ways that are indescribable,” the wife of Williams, who was 37-years-old when he died, told the judge. Williams’ wife said she had to bury her husband a day before their second anniversary.

The impact reverberates forever,” Williams’ cousin told Bartnoff.

As Roy’s defense attorney, Jonathan Zucker, addressed the judge, he opened his remarks with remorse, stating that Roy wishes he could apologize to Williams for the “senseless act of violence” against him.

“If Mr. Roy had any ability to take it back, he would take it back,” Zucker said, his statement was later corroborated by an apology from Roy to Williams’ family. Roy’s family was also in the court room.

Zucker told the judge that he disagreed with the prosecution’s version of the circumstances that took place that day, claiming that Roy shot Williams, not just to steal his Iphone 7, but because he was under the influence of PCP or angel dust. However, the judge did not accept drug use as an explanation for the homicide.

Zucker also disagreed with the prosecution’s statement that Roy had a violent criminal history. Zucker said most of Roy’s prior offenses dealt with robbery and that he was never accused or convicted of hurting anyone before the 2017 shooting. However, in 1992, Roy was charged with assault with intent to kill.

The defense asked for a 15-year sentence.

Williams accepted a plea deal for second-degree murder in November of 2017. He is also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release after prison.