Preliminary Plea Negotiations Underway in Case of Fatal Traffic Accident

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 14, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Traffic | Victims |

Parties are negotiating a potential plea deal for a man charged with murder in relation to a traffic incident. On the afternoon of June 13, 2021, Gerald Lewis was allegedly driving a vehicle that crashed into a bus shelter near 14th and P Street, NW, in Logan Circle, according to court documents. Fifty-nine-year-old Antonio Felder was struck and killed in the collision. Lewis, 30, was arrested that same day. Metropolitan Police Department officers could allegedly smell alcohol on him.

Lewis is charged with second-degree murder in Felder’s death. 

During a Jan. 14 satatus hearing, parties told DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt that they most recently spoke yesterday and would like more time to continue their plea negotiations. 

Judge Brandt scheduled parties to reconvene on March 4. In the meantime, Lewis will remain released into the High Intensity Supervision Program. A representative with the Pretrial Services Agency reported that he is in compliance with his pretrial release conditions. 

According to court documents, Lewis approached an officer after the crash saying, “I’m right here. I was driving. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.”

The defendant reportedly became irate as he tried to help Felder. An officer assured him that someone had called an ambulance. Lewis then allegedly said, “Y’all not about to get me for a f—— murder bro. Y’all not about to do that to me. Can’t nobody do that to me.”