Judge Sentences Man to Nearly 14 years for 2015 Homicide

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 29, 2019
Court | Homicides | Policy | Suspects |

A judge sentenced Jan. 25 a man to 167 months, or about 14 years, for the death of another man in 2015.

John James, 27, pleaded guilty in October of 2018 to voluntary manslaughter and aggravated assault for shooting Ernest Massenberg-Bey, Jr. on the 1100 block of Eaton Road, SE, which is located in the Barry Farm neighborhood. 

During the sentencing, a prosecutor said that James shot the two men after an argument over a dice game. According to court documents, Massenberg-Bey intervened in an argument between James and a surviving victim. James left the scene of the argument but returned and shot the two men. The surviving victim later identified James as the shooter.

“I walked around for two years, numb and in disbelief that I’d never see my son again,” Massenberg-Bey’s mother told DC Superior Court Judge Milton C Lee. She said that her son was shot and killed a day after his birthday, which he shared with her and his grandmother.

Judge Lee sentenced James to 125 months for voluntary manslaughter and 42 months for aggravated assault. The sentences will be served consecutively. James’ conviction carried a voluntary sentencing guideline range of 12-15 years.

When released from prison, James is required to register on a gun-offender. He is also required to serve five additional years on supervised release.