United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia

06/09/2023 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2023 14:46

District Man Arrested in Shooting Death of 62-year-old man

Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Columbia
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 9, 2023

District Man Arrested in Shooting Death of 62-year-old man

Defendant Shot Innocent Bystander While Aiming for Robbers

WASHINGTON - Demarcus Barnett, 20, of Washington, D.C., was arrested yesterday for second degree murder while armed, stemming from the shooting death of 62-year-old Lasanta Qumar McGill, on June 8, 2023, in the Westminster neighborhood, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict, of the Metropolitan Police Department announced.

Mr. Barnett was arraigned today in Superior Court in the District of Columbia, where he entered a not guilty plea. The court found probable cause that the defendant committed the murder and held him without bond pending a preliminary hearing on June 20, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge Raffinan.

An arrest on a complaint is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws and every defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.

In announcing the arrest, U.S. Attorney Graves commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Topic(s):
Firearms Offenses
Press Release Number:
23-317