Jamar George pleaded innocent Friday to the charge of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 20-year-old Ronnie Speight Jr.
George, 25, also pleaded innocent to related weapons charges.
Speight was shot dead in an alley in Northeast D.C. in May 2011; an autopsy revealed a total of eleven gunshot wounds to his body. A crime scene investigation discovered eight 9mm cartridge casings and two strike marks, indicating that the shooter had stood over the top of Speight and fired down upon him.
According to charging documents, prosecutors believe that George, Speight, and a third person were in a car together on the afternoon of May 26, 2011. George had organized the get-together to rob a drug dealer of multiple pounds of marijuana, and while in route, he handed a semi-automatic pistol to Speight, the documents say.
George directed the driver of the vehicle to an alley in the 5100 block of Jay Street Northeast, and he exited the vehicle from the front passenger side. After Speight exited from the rear passenger side, George opened fire on him, according to the documents.
Speight attempted to run away, but only took a few steps before collapsing to the ground. George then stood over Speight and fired multiple shots into his body.
After retrieving the handgun he had given Speight, George got back into the vehicle, and said, “F— that n—. F— me out of my money,” according to documents in the case.
Later, while serving a prison sentence for unrelated charges, the suspected driver of the vehicle told police about Speight’s death.
A status hearing has been scheduled for February 15.
