Lester Wright pleaded guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of 47-year-old Howard Williams.
Williams was killed in Aug 2011. According to charging documents, Williams, Wright, and Wright’s aunt all lived together in an apartment on 18th Place NE. An argument between Wright and the two others in the house preceded the shooting, a witness told police.
Wright is expected for sentencing June 15.
A press release from the US Attorney’s Office is below.
District Man Pleads Guilty to Murder In August 2011 Slaying in Northeast Washington -Victim Was Shot Multiple Times-
WASHINGTON - Lester Wright, 21, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed in a slaying that took place last year in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Wright pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck scheduled sentencing for June 15, 2012. Wright faces up to 40 years in prison.
At the plea hearing, Wright admitted that on August 6, 2011, he lived with his aunt and the decedent, Howard Williams, 47, in their shared one-bedroom apartment in the 300 block of 18th Place NE. That morning, his aunt argued with Mr. Williams. Afterward, Wright shot Mr. Williams five times in the back of the head and back. Then Wright fled from the apartment.
The police arrived a short time later and found the victim on the back porch. Mr. Williams died as a result of his injuries.
In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Detectives Gabriel Truby, Anthony Greene, Norma Horne and Joshua Branson and Crime Scene Search Officer Ivan Singleton. He also commended those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney and Victim Witness Advocate Lorraine Chase. Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Cobb, who investigated and prosecuted the case.
