Murder Defendant Motions to Withdraw Guilty Plea

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During a status hearing Jan. 24, a murder defendant said he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea.

Matthew Moore, 34, pleaded guilty on Aug. 24, 2018, to two counts of first-degree murder while armed for shooting Ronnell Tye Reaves and Kevin Kennedy on the 600 block of 14th Place, NE in January of 2017. 

Reaves, 22, died at the scene after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Kennedy, 23, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries more than a year later in July of 2018.

“He has been dragging this case out for the last two years,” Reaves’ mother told DC Superior Court Judge Danya Dayson during the hearing. “My family cannot move on with this being prolonged.”

Moore, who is being held without bond, initially pleaded not guilty, saying he acted out of self-defense. 

A motions hearing is scheduled on March 8.