Murder Defendant Has Less Than One Month Left to Make Decision on Plea Offer

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A murder defendant has less than a month left to decide if he wants to accept a plea deal.

Delonte Samuels is charged with first-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Michael Bright on the night of Oct. 6, 2020, on the 1100 block of 45th Street, NE. The homicide is alleged to have been a robbery gone wrong.

During the most recent hearing for this case on Feb. 9, the prosecution said the defense has not yet made a decision on the plea offer they extended. Defense attorney Janai Reed said she wanted extra time so her client could fully comprehend the terms and consequences of the plea.

The defense has until March 4 to let the prosecution know if Samuels, 29, will accept or reject the plea deal. If he accepts it, two other cases he has open- one a felony and the other a misdemeanor- will be dropped.

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan scheduled parties to reconvene on March 18.

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