Over Victim's Son's Objections, Murder Defendant Accepts Plea Deal

Thank you for reading D.C. Witness. Help us continue our mission into 2024.

A homicide defendant accepted a plea agreement extended by prosecutors before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on Nov. 1.

Michael Grayton, 42, was charged with first-degree murder while armed for his involvement in the fatal shooting of Danzell Hall, 26, on the 1500 block of Benning Road, NE on July 12.

During the hearing, Jason Tulley, Grayton’s defense attorney, stated that Grayton will be accepting a plea deal, which requires him to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed, in exchange for the prosecution’s not seeking an indictment. Through the deal, parties agreed to a sentencing range of 14-to-26 years of incarceration.

Families of both the defendant and the victim were present via Webex. Grayton’s family expressed concern over his taking the plea and urged him not to accept. Additionally, the prosecution read a letter provided by Hall’s eight-year-old son, which said, “the person responsible should spend life in prison without parole” ending with the statement that he and his family are seeking “justice for Hall.”

Taking the family statements into consideration, Judge Raffinan accepted Grayton’s plea of guilty.

Sentencing is set for April 25, 2025.

Over Victim’s Son’s Objections, Murder Defendant Accepts Plea Deal