Date: 07-19-2024

Case Style:

United States of America v. Brandon Smith

Case Number:

Judge: Not Available

Court: The United States District Court for the District of Columbia (Washington County)

Plaintiff's Attorney: The United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C.

Defendant's Attorney:

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Description:

Washington, D.C. criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Fourth of July Murder
20-Year Prison Sentence Handed Down for Fourth of July Murder

Brandon Smith, 38, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to second degree murder while armed on February 4, 2024. According to the government’s evidence, at approximately 4:28 p.m. on July 4, 2023, police received a 911 call for a shooting in the unit bloc of Patterson Street, Northeast, Washington, D.C. Officers arrived to find Mr. Stanton lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. He was unconscious and not breathing. Despite all lifesaving efforts, Mr. Stanton succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 4:40pm. It was later determined he had sustained at least 13 gunshot wounds.

During the course of the investigation, detectives viewed video surveillance footage from locations near and around the crime scene that captured the defendant’s car­ in the unit block of Patterson Street, NE, prior to the shooting. At the time, the victim was sitting on a bicycle on the north side of the street interacting with someone in another vehicle. The video captured Mr. Stanton riding away from that vehicle and toward the defendant's car. A short time later, the defendant exited his car where he engaged the decedent in a conversation. After a few minutes of conversation, the defendant retrieved a handgun from his pants, moved a few steps toward Mr. Stanton and, as Mr. Stanton attempted to leave on the bicycle, extended his right arm toward Mr. Stanton. The surveillance video captured Mr. Stanton falling from the bicycle, to the ground, and never getting back up. The defendant walked toward Mr. Stanton and continued to shoot the victim who remained helpless and defenseless on the ground. No weapons were found on the decedent’s person or near his body. The defendant then reentered his vehicle and left the scene.

In reviewing the surveillance video, detectives were able to retrieve the license plate number on the defendant’s car which ultimately led to his identification and arrest.

This case was investigated by the MPD’s Homicide Branch. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke.

Outcome:

Defendant was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release and ordered him to register as a gun offender.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

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