Phillip Crooms was arrested today on first-degree murder charges in connection with the homicide of Delonte Butler in September 2010, according to MPD.
Butler, 29, was found by District officers on Sept. 25 in a car that was on fire. He was pronounced dead at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, whose subsequent investigation found that Butler was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
Crooms, 28, of Southeast is the second person to be arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection with Butler’s death. The first was Joseph Spinks, who was arrested in September.
MPD’s press release is after the jump.
May 19, 2011
Second Arrest Made in the Homicide of Delonte Butler
( Washington, DC)-Detectives assigned to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced today a second arrest has been made in the homicide of 29-year-old Delonte Butler.
On Saturday, September 25, 2010, at approximately 4:45 am, Seventh District officers were alerted to an automobile crash in the 3700 block of 1st Street, SE. Officers responded to the scene and found a single vehicle accident, and the vehicle was on fire.
DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and located a male victim; however, the victim showed no signs consistent with life and was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where he was pronounced dead. The subsequent investigation revealed that the victim was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.
On Thursday, May 19, 2011, at approximately 11:00 am, 28 year old Phillip Crooms of Southeast, DC, was arrested and charged with First Degree Felony Murder by members of the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.
