Murder Defendant Accepts Plea Deal with 15-to-20-Year Sentence

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Andre Clark accepted a prosecution offer and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in return for a sentence limited to 15-to-20 years’ incarceration during a hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman on May 5.

Clark, 34, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Leonard Taylor, Jr., on Oct. 20, 2024, on the 1500 block of 19th Street, SE.

The prosecutor said Clark walked out of a vacant building toward a vehicle parked by the curb and pointed a gun at the driver, who was Taylor. When Taylor began to drive away, Clark shot him in the back, killing him.

According to arrest records, Clark told police he visits that vacant building to consume illicit substances.

Thomas Key, Clark’s attorney, said the maximum sentence that can be imposed in DC for second-degree murder while armed is 40 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000. Since this plea offer was made according to Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, the sentence is limited to the length the parties agreed on.

Judge Edelman said Clark will also be required to serve five years of supervised release, pay between $100 and $5,000 to the Victims of Violent Crime fund, and register as a gun offender.

Parties are scheduled to reconvene for sentencing on July 11.