Teen Murder Defendants Accept Murder Plea Offers

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Teenage co-defendants, charged in connection to another teen’s death, accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors on Oct. 28, before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun.

Marlan Smith, 17, and Anthony Monroe, 18, were originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for their involvement in the fatal shooting of Antonio Cunningham, 17, and severe injury of another victim on Sep. 11, 2023 on the 2300 block of Washington Place, NE.

According to court documents, both defendants were participants in multiple armed robberies on the day of the incident, including an attempt to rob Cunningham. The second victim witnessed the attempted robbery of Cunningham and approached the group with their own, legally owned, firearm. Once the defendants saw the shooting victim’s weapon, they fired, hitting Cunningham in the head and the other victim in the abdomen.

During the hearing, Thomas Key, Smith’s attorney, and Stephen LoGerfo, Monroe’s attorney, alerted Judge Okun of their intent to accept a deal.

Through the deal, the teens agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder while armed and assault with a dangerous weapon, in exchange for the prosecution not seeking an indictment on higher charges, and five additional robberies that occurred on the same day, as well as eight additional crimes allegedly committed by Smith.

The prosecution also agreed to dismiss a case in which Monroe and Smith are charged with assaulting an employee at the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), and will dismiss other juvenile cases they have.

Parties agreed to a sentencing range of 13-to-18 years of incarceration.

Judge Okun accepted both defendants’ guilty pleas.

Sentencing is set for March 14.