Cedric Spicer pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder while armed in the February shooting death of 24-year-old Joseph Hardin.
Prosecutors have agreed to a plea agreement that will give Spicer 23 years in prison for Hardin’s death.
Police found Hardin February 23 around 1:15 a.m. on the 1900 block of 9th Street Northwest shot and dead. Spicer, 25, was seen blocks away throwing a silver and black .40 caliber handgun as he fled the scene. He was arrested and charged in Hardin’s death.
According to plea documents, the night of the murder, Hardin was with his girlfriend and other friends at the “1920 Lounge,” a night club in Northwest D.C.
Spicer was also at the club with a female and several other friends, documents state.
In court Monday, Spicer told Judge Herbert Dixon that Hardin’s girlfriend and Spicer’s female friend began to argue inside the club after bumping into each other’s table.
The argument between the two women quickly turned into an altercation between Spicer and Hardin, Spicer said Monday.
Both groups were escorted out of the night club, court documents say, but Hardin and Spicer continued to argue in front of the club.
“I left to get a weapon, then I came back and shot the decedent,” Spicer said.
Court documents state that a witness took photos of the entire altercation outside of the club, including the shooting.
The images show Spicer within two to three feet from Hardin’s left side, shooting toward him eight times, documents state.
The case is scheduled for sentencing on January 17, 2014 with Judge Dixon.
Plea documents have been added to this post.
