Murder Defendant Breaks Down in Tears During Sentencing

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 16, 2019
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects |

During a sentencing Aug. 16, a murder defendant broke down in tears before receiving his sentence.

Andre Gray, 56, pleaded guilty March 15 to involuntary manslaughter for his alleged involvement in the death of 37-year-old Keisha Whitaker on the 1500 block of 18th Street, SE on Sept. 12, 2018. Apparently, Whitaker was riding in the front passenger seat of a car Gray was driving while he was under the influence of PCP, a hallucinatory drug.

“I would have never imagined that this would have happened,” Gray told DC Superior Court Judge Ronna Beck. “I’ve felt this pain before, when my son died at 12 years-old. I’m sorry, I know I have an extensive record but I never thought it would come to this.”

Gray also said the experience was an eye-opener for him and he was sorry for all the pain he caused Whitaker’s family, who were not present in court.

The prosecution recommended a sentence of five years in jail.

The defense asked for four years and requested that Gray serve his time in the Butner Federal Correctional Complex located in Eastern North Carolina because of his age and medical needs.

Judge Beck sentenced Gray to four and half years in jail and recommended he serve his sentence at FCI Butner.