Donald Dubose pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed Monday for his role in the 2012 drive-by shooting that killed 34-year-old Michael Oshea Smith.
Smith’s body was found in the passenger seat of a gray Mercedes Benz in the Barry Farms housing project shortly before 6:00 a.m. on May 12. Smith, shot twice in the head, was already dead when police arrived.
Dubose, 24, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill and a weapons charge for his involvement with the murder. Prosecutors agreed to drop remaining charges in exchange for Dubose’ plea.
According to the proffer of facts, Smith and another man, Larry Gilbert, left Northwest D.C. in a gray Mercedes headed to the Barry Farms neighborhood. Dubose followed them in a black Ford Fusion with the intention of causing harm.
When they stopped in the 1100 block of Stevens Road, Dubose pulled up next to the driver’s side of their vehicle so his two associates could shoot them. So far, Dubose is the only person arrested in Smith’s death.
Gilbert, who sustained a gunshot wound to the arm, crashed the vehicle into a house in the 1200 block of Stevens Road Southeast while trying to drive away.
Dubose told the judge Monday that he knew his associates intended to shoot Smith. Dubose is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Jennifer Anderson on February 20 at 12:00 p.m. He faces a 15- to 17-year prison sentence.
