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By
Cameron Horne
- November 25, 2024
Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Shooting
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Suspects
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Victims
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A mass shooting defendant indicated his intention to reject a plea offer in a Nov. 22 hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt
Aaron Brown, 28, is charged with first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, five counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, unlawful possession of a firearm, and conspiracy.
These charges are tied to multiple shootings between Feb. 26 and March 1, 2020 resulting in eleven victims, including the murder of 13 year-old Malachi Lukes. The shootings took place on the 700 block of Farragut street NW, the 1700 block of ninth street NW, the 600 block of S street NW, and the unit block of Channing Street NE.
During the hearing, Brown indicated that he intended to formally reject a plea offer from the prosecution that would require Brown plead guilty to assault with intent to kill in exchange for dismissal of all other charges and a sentencing cap at 18 years.
After discussing Brown’s intention, his attorney, Joseph Yarbough, asked the court to recuse himself as Brown’s counsel. Yarbough stated that communications between the two had simply “broken down,” and added that the trial date was far enough away that new counsel would not create undue delay.
Judge Brandt posited that three of Brown’s original co-defendants had just received sentences longer than 100 years, and that rejection of this plea deal essentially guaranteed Brown would be going to trial.
Judge Brandt, in response to Yarbough’s recusal request stated that it would take time to find an available attorney given how many were already involved in an “eleven victim … case that took five months to try”
Yarbough asked the prosecution to keep the plea offer open for any potential new counsel to discuss with Brown to which they agreed but affirmed “it won’t get any better.”
Judge Brandt agreed to begin looking for new counsel.
Parties are slated to reconvene on Dec. 17.