Victim’s Family Says Six Years Is Not Enough For the Homicide 

By Zakiyia Ortiz [former] - October 31, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

During an Oct. 28 hearing, family members poured into a courtroom at the DC Superior Courthouse pleading for a higher sentence after the defendant entered into a plea deal for six to nine years in prison for the homicide of two individuals.

Rasheed Young, 44, fatally shot 26-year-old Cedric Rogers on June 11, 1996, on the 300 block of Franklin Street, NE. Young also fatally shot 39-year-old Ronald William Richardson, Jr. on May 18, 2018, on the 2300 block of 4th Street, NE. 

DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun opened the court to the family members of Richardson for their impact statements. 

“I’m sorry,” Richardson’s older sister cried out in court. “When my brother was born, I was 13 years old, and he was my first baby. When you killed my brother, you killed my father. My brother was my father’s favorite child. My father looked for him the day that he went missing. We had no idea what was going on with him, yet he lay in that apartment for two days. May God have mercy on your soul!” 

Ricahrdson’s second sister said, “you know exactly who I am and what exactly you have done for you all to develop a relationship and to turn around and do this to my brother. While you were on the run you sent me multiple friend requests on Facebook knowing what you did. My mother died 11 months after my brother because she couldn’t handle it. My father passed away 11 months after her because his youngest son was gone. It was our son’s prom night, and my brother wasn’t there,” she said. 

Rogers’ mother dialed in remotely to give her statement.

“My heart goes out to the family,” she said. “My son was killed, and I haven’t heard the defendant was remorseful for what he did. For him to get one sentencing is not enough. This man is still sitting here while my son is in the grave. He killed my son over a dog. A four-legged creature. It’s not years he is facing. He will get out of jail and do it again. I pray to God to hold me and to keep me straight and I pray for his mom because when she looks at him she has to look at the murders he had done.” 

Defense attorney Kevin Mosley mentioned  Young has suffered a stroke and doesn’t remember any of the actions the prosecution had found on his behalf.

Young has a history of substance abuse. In 2012, the defendant had a stroke but is competent today. His mental health fluctuates because of his medicine,  Mosley said.

Judge Okun sentenced Young to nine years in prison.

Upon release, he must complete five years of supervised release and register as a gun offender. He also has to complete substance and mental health treatment. 

“As a man in your mid-forties,  for your sake and the community’s, I hope you turn things around and I never have to see you in this courtroom again,” Judge Okun said.