Victor Purdie pleads guilty to manslaughter for fatal assault outside Union Station

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 24, 2017
Court | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

The man accused of fatally assaulting another man outside of Union Station last October pleaded guilty Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter.

As part of a plea agreement, Victor Purdie, 56, enter a guilty plea for his fatal kicks and punches to Richard Lewis. Purdie was initially charged with second-degree murder and he will be sentenced July 28.

The original assault took place in October, but Lewis died from his injuries in January of this year.

According to charging documents, Purdie and Lewis were allegedly seen in surveillance footage in Union Station on the morning of the incident. In the footage, Purdie can be seen walking up to Lewis on the sidewalk and pushing a picture directly in Lewis’ face. When Lewis keeps walking Purdie jerks Lewis’ head and body in the direction of the picture, which the police investigation reveals was a picture of the gravesite where Purdie’s mother is buried.

According to the document, Purdie and Lewis separate and are no longer visible in the footage. Moments later Purdie is seen running toward where the assault is alleged to have occurred.

When police called Purdie in for questioning, Purdie identified himself as the other male in the video and confessed that he assaulted Lewis. Purdie told police he showed Lewis the picture of his mother’s grave, Lewis allegedly spit on Purdie’s face and cursed at him. Purdie reacted by punching and kicking Lewis. Purdie said Lewis, “bothers people.”