Decordre Franklin pleaded guilty Friday to voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the shooting death of 33-year-old Irving Jones Jr. In exchange for the plea, prosecutors will not indict Franklin on any additional charges related to Jones’ death.
Police found Jones around 2 a.m. March 30 lying on a sidewalk near a playground in the 600 block of Edgewood Street Northeast suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He later died at MedStar Washington Hospital.
According to the plea agreement, Jones and Franklin engaged in a brief physical altercation while outdoors in the Edgewood Terrace apartment complex that Saturday morning. After the fight ended, the two men began arguing. Sometime during the verbal argument, Franklin pulled out a handgun, shot Jones in the chest at close range and then fled the scene.
Franklin is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge John Ramsey Johnson September 13.
Plea documents have been added to this post.
