DeAndre Shaheed pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder while armed for his role in the shooting death of Akinwole Williams.
In exchange, the prosecution agreed to dismiss the more serious charge of first-degree murder, conspiracy, attempted armed robbery and five other related charges. As part of the plea agreement, Shaheed will likely be sentenced to 12 to 24 years in prison for the second-degree murder charge.
The plea comes almost three weeks before Shaheed and his co-defendants Floyd Neal and Lafeyette Robinson were scheduled to stand trial in the case. In court Tuesday, prosecutors did not indicate whether Shaheed will be required to testify against the other men.
According to prosecutors, 18-year-old Shaheed waited outside of the Deanwood Metro station with Neal and Robinson, looking for somebody to rob on March 14, 2013. Williams, who was returning from a job fair, left the train station and started to walk home, followed by Shaheed, Neal and Robinson.
The three men knew where Williams lived, and they cut through a side street to intercept Williams before he could get home, according to the proffer of facts. Once Williams arrived, Shaheed pointed a shotgun at him and said he was going to rob Williams, according to the prosecutors.
Williams struggled with Shaheed, trying to gain control of the weapon, but Shaheed was able to point the gun at Williams and shoot him in the chest, prosecutors said. Williams died at local hospital that night.
Neal was found carrying the shotgun used in the murder a few weeks after the incident. He was arrested after a witness identified him as one of the men with Shaheed that night. Neal still faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, felony murder, attempted robbery and seven other weapons charges.
The same witness identified Robinson, leading to his arrest in June. Robinson is charged with first-degree murder, felony murder, conspiracy, attempted robbery and four weapons charges.
Shaheed is scheduled for sentencing on Sept. 12 at 11 a.m.
Plea documents have been added to this post.
