Demarcus Barnett, a District resident aged 20, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed for the fatal shooting of Lasanta Qumar McGill in June. As a consequence, Barnett has been sentenced to nearly nine years in prison.
The police reported that a dispute that started in a nearby market led to a shooting incident in the streets of Northwest DC. The unfortunate outcome of the gunfire was the loss of McGill’s life.
Commander James Boteler from the Metropolitan Police reported that on June 8th, at approximately 1:15 pm, patrol officers in the 1900 block of 7th Street NW near the Howard Theater were alerted to the sound of gunshots.
Upon arriving, they found McGill had been shot and promptly administered medical aid until the arrival of paramedics. Tragically, despite their efforts, McGill was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital.
Authorities were able to apprehend a suspect in a shooting incident with the help of witnesses in the area. Upon investigation, a weapon was found at the location of the shooting.
Within a day of the incident, Barnett was identified as a suspect in the shooting and arrested on a charge of murder while armed by the authorities.
Boteler stated that McGill was just taking a leisurely walk outside and savoring the pleasant weather when his unfortunate death occurred.
The issue of illegal firearms on the streets of Washington, DC is a pressing concern that demands immediate action, as reiterated by the concerned official. He pointed out that there are numerous individuals carrying these weapons without any valid justification, which is alarming. To address this problem, he highlighted that his agency is leaving no stone unturned in collaboration with their federal partners. Their unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety of the community is evident, and they will continue to exert their best efforts towards achieving this objective.
Sadly, there exists a considerable portion of the population that owns illegal firearms. The escalation of everyday conflicts into gun violence is simply unacceptable and demands attention, particularly in Washington, DC.
The court was urged by the prosecution to impose a jail term of up to 15 years on Barnett, citing his prior criminal record. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge also ordered Barnett to serve a five-year period of supervised release.
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