Prosecution and Defense Agree on 12-14 Year Plea Deal for Murder Defendant

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A homicide defendant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed during a Jan. 3 hearing.

Kyrie Wells, 20, was initially charged with first-degree murder while armed, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with intent to kill while armed, and carrying a pistol without a license on Nov. 19, 2020.

According to court documents, authorities were dispatched to the 2600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE on Sept. 26, 2020, and discovered 25-year-old Anthony Lee suffering from a gunshot wound.

During their investigation, detectives discovered there were four shooters and they were all caught in surveillance footage outside of the liquor store where the shooting occurred. Three of the shooters were seen on surveillance tape in front of the store, and a fourth was seen on its side.

The security footage from the night of the shooting was presented to two officers who are familiar with the locals who frequent the vicinity of MLK Avenue and Mellon Street, SE. They were identified as Niko Hall and Wells. Both men received the same charges.

The investigation also showed that Hall and Wells both uploaded images on Instagram four hours before the murder in the same attire as was captured on camera the night of the murder.

Defense attorney David Benowitz stated at the hearing on Tuesday that his client was aware of the 40-year maximum sentence for the offense. The prosecution and defense have agreed to a 12- to 14-year sentence in prison.

Hall is slated for a jury trial in October 2023.

As part of his plea, the prosecution agreed to dismiss the four other charges.

Parties are scheduled to return to court for a sentencing hearing on April 13.

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