Three Homicide Defendants Sentenced for ‘Senseless’ Killing of Teen

By Nicole Hansen - April 8, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On April 5, three homicide co-defendants were sentenced after agreeing to a plea deal before DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan. 

Nelfy Hernandez, 20, Trey Prillerman, 20 and Deandre Levy, 22, were originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, and three counts of assault with intent to kill, among other charges, in the shooting of 17-year-old Taijhon Wyatt, Jr. on the 5500 block of 9th Street, NW, on Aug. 10, 2020. 

According to court documents, the three shot into a crowd of juveniles from inside of a stolen vehicle, killing Wyatt and injuring one other individual.

Prillerman was also charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, attempt to commit robbery while armed, and unarmed carjacking for his involvement in an Oct. 1, 2020, incident on the 6200 block of 8th Street, NW, that claimed the life of  42-year-old Arthur Daniels IV.

In August of 2023, the defendants accepted a plea deal extended by prosecutors. 

According to the terms, Prillerman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his involvement in Wyatt’s shooting, and to robbery for his involvement in the Daniels incident, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. 

Levy pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for his involvement in Wyatt’s shooting, while Hernandez pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for his involvement in Wyatt’s shooting, and to assault for his involvement in the attack of an officer in jail, months after his arrest. 

During the proceedings, prosecution used security footage and audio to depict how the three defendants “stalked” Wyatt and his friends, “trying to trap” him in the minutes leading up to the shooting. 

Wyatt’s parents and siblings begged the court for the maximum sentence, expressing the grief and outrage they felt after their loved one was taken away from them so abruptly. 

Wyatt’s step-mother told the court, “I am not sure if they are even remorseful.” 

Defense attorneys Elizabeth Weller, Thomas Healy, and Douglas Wood argued in favor of sentencing under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which seals a defendant’s conviction when their sentencing requirements are successfully completed, for Prillerman, Levy, and Hernandez respectively. 

All three attorneys noted that their clients had completed GEDs since incarceration, and had demonstrated both remorse for their actions and initiative in their rehabilitation. 

Judge Raffinan acknowledged that all three defendants had no criminal history score prior to the shooting, and that all three had made participatory efforts in their rehabilitation. 

Raffinan emphasized, however, that the defendants’ “senseless act” took away the life of “someone who will not get the opportunity to get their GED.” 

Levy was sentenced to eight years of incarceration, and five years of supervised release for voluntary manslaughter while armed. 

Hernandez was sentenced to a total of 13 years, with 12 years of incarceration for second-degree murder and a consecutive year for assault, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Prillerman was sentenced to 15 years of incarceration, with 12 years  for second-degree murder, and a consecutive 5 years, all but 36 months suspended, for robbery, to be followed by a year of probation consecutive to five years of supervised release. 

All three defendants were granted YRA status for their sentences and are required to register as gun offenders. 

Following closing statements, an online spectator unmuted to say “f**k y’all,” before exiting the call. 

No further dates were set for this matter.