Murder Defendant Rejects Plea Deal

By D.C. Witness Staff - August 2, 2018
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

During a felony status conference on Aug. 2, a murder defendant rejected a plea deal.

Mario Alfaro is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting Jonathan Vilchez, 22, on the 5400 block of Georgia Avenue, NW in 2017.

According to court documents, the incident was recorded by three different cameras. According to surveillance footage,  Alfaro, 23, mouthed something to Vilchez while they were in a convenience store, before showing his firearm. A second video showed Vilchez drawing his gun and shooting Alfaro first. The third video shows Alfaro stop outside of the convenience store, load his gun and fire shots at Vilchez.

Police subsequently found a blood trail which led them directly to a dumpster where the murder weapon was located. The trail then led them to Alfaro, who was found suffering from gunshot wounds and brought to the hospital.

Under the plea agreement, Alfaro could have pled guilty to second-degree murder while armed with a firearm and the prosecution would drop all other charges.

A felony status conference is scheduled on Aug. 29.