Brandon Terry pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of Jhonte Coleman.
Coleman was killed in November 2011 after a party at Heritage India in Dupont Circle. Terry, 29, was arrested in February.
Under the plea agreement, attorneys for both sides recommended Terry serve 22 years for the murder charge and two assault charges. The maximum possible sentence is 60 years total.
Terry only spoke to give Judge Ronna Beck one- or two-word answers to her questions about the plea agreement and forfeiting his right to a trial.
Prosecutor Melinda Williams described the events leading up to the shooting.
She said that, after the November Heritage India party was shut down early, attendees poured out into the street. Terry was jumped by a Prince George’s County crew, the Forest Creek Crew. The group kicked and stomped him.
After the assault, Terry walked across the street and got a gun from a friend. He approached Coleman, who was standing on a street median, and asked if he was part of the Forest Creek Crew. Before he had time to answer, Terry fired, striking Coleman and two others, Williams said. Coleman was not part of the initial assault.
Coleman later died of his injuries.
“Is that what happened?” Beck asked.
“Yes,” Terry answered.
“Do you disagree with any part of that statement?” she asked.
“No,” Terry said.
Terry is scheduled for sentencing June 22 at 9:30 a.m. Members of Coleman’s family are scheduled to give victim impact statements during the sentencing.
