Roosevelt Robinson sentenced to 18 years for fatally shooting cousin

By D.C. Witness Staff - February 28, 2016
Court | Homicides | Suspects |

Roosevelt Robinson was sentenced to 18 years in prison followed by five years of probation for fatally shooting his cousin after an argument last August.
Robinson, who had pled guilty to second-degree murder while armed as part of a plea agreement, shot Loretta Carswell, 63, on the porch of her home. He then barricaded himself in a home down the street, in the 3700 block of 18th Street NE, for over 30 hours.
Carswell’s nephew, Ronald Carswell Jr., has attended Roosevelt’s hearings and previously said he forgave his relative, but still wanted him to answer for the murder.
Carswell described his aunt as a strong, stern and loving woman who wouldn’t put up with excuses or bad behaviors from family– but did it out of love.
“There’s not one person she wouldn’t help,” he said.

According to Carswell and the police charging documents, the fatal shooting of Loretta Carswell on August 21 stemmed from a family dispute. Loretta Carswell wanted Robinson out of the home she owned, that had been in her family for years. Robinson claimed Carswell stole a $10,000 diamond ring from him that was intended for his daughter.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office announcing Robinson’s sentence, Robinson went to Carswell’s home on the morning of August 21 and demanded the ring back. Carswell gave him a look interpreted by Robinson as dismissive, and he responded, “Girl, you know I should kill you for doing what you did.”

According to the USAO, Carswell then said “You can go ahead and kill me if you want to, I done told you I don’t have your ring.”
Robinson then shot Carswell once in the head with a Ruger. 357 Magnum revolver.
Robinson was arrested 30 hours later after a stand-off with police.