Christian Navarette-Rivas | Homicide Watch DC

Six Year Sentence for Manslaughter in Petworth Gang Case

Lindsey Anderson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:03:08 -0400

To the frustrated disappointment of Miguel Drullard's family, sixteen-year-old Christian Navarrette-Rivas was sentenced today to six years in prison for voluntary manslaughter in the dragging death of 22-year-old Drullard.

Navarrette-Rivas pleaded guilty in January to driving his red Jeep Liberty and intentionally striking Drullard on Oct. 16, 2011. The car drug Drullard as it moved forward and Drullard later died from his injuries.

Attorneys had suggested a sentencing range for four to ten years for the crime. They said Navarrette-Rivas has no criminal record, is 16-years-old, and accepted responsibility for his actions.

Judge Ronna Beck said she chose the six-year sentence in part because of victim impact statements from Drullard’s friends and family and the “disturbing effects of gang violence” linked to the incident.

Beck said Navarrette-Rivas chose to drive to the fight, stop his car, accelerate toward Drullard, and drive away.

"I do not believe that Christian intended to harm Mr. Drullard or anyone else," Beck said. "I can see on the faces in the courtroom that Mr. Drullard’s family is disappointed. But I have other responsibilities as well. If imposing a harsher sentence would bring him back, I would do it."

Navarrette-Rivas also read a letter he wrote, apologizing for his actions, describing his involvement in a writing and reading program at the jail and saying he hopes to study medicine, engineering or architecture some day.

"I got caught up in peer pressure so I’m sorry for everyone I let down," he said quietly. "This is just a chapter in my biography that I hope I can publish when I get out [of jail]."

Defense attorney Chiquisha Robinson also read a brief statement from Navarrette-Rivas's mother.

“In the name of my son, I ask forgiveness to your family because I too am a mother,” she read, followed by a quote from Psalm 46:1-3.

Prosecutor J.P. Cooney told of an 11-year-old boy who witnessed Drullard’s afternoon death with his three-year-old brother. The older boy walked his brother home after the incident, went back outside and tugged on the shirt of a police officer, saying, “There’s something I need to tell you,” the attorney said.

“The 11-year-old boy did what an adult would do that day,” the attorney said, emphasizing that much of the defense’s case has centered around Navarrette-Rivas’s youth when an 11-year-old boy “did the right thing.”

Just before sentencing, Robinson said Navarrette-Rivas attended church, earned Student of the Month while in jail and actively reached out for support.

"It has been a complete honor to represent him," she said, slightly choked up, to the baffled whisperings of the Spanish curse word "mierda" by Drullard's friends and family.

Before the sentencing, Drullard’s aunt read a statement in English and Spanish, saying her nephew was a college student and a jokester who used to leave the bag of her favorite oatmeal raisin cookies open to dry them out and taunt her.

“The only thing we have is our visits to the cemetery to look at his tomb, to bring him flowers, because we will never see him again in this life,” she said.

This story originally listed the sentence as five years; it is six.

Plea Deal in Fatal Petworth Hit-and-Run Gang Murder

Laura Amico — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:07:59 -0500

The sixteen-year-old suspected of taking part in a gang melee in Petworth in October has pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of assault.

Christian Navarette-Rivas appeared in court Tuesday morning to enter the plea.

According to the government's evidence, Navarette-Rivas was driving a red Jeep Liberty, which he used to intentionally strike Miguel Drullard on Oct. 16. Drullard was drug by the car as it moved forward. He suffered serious injuries, was taken to a hospital and was pronounced dead. Drullard's pitbull was also struck by Navarette-Rivas' vehicle.

The collision was the culmination of a gang fight involving several people. According to court documents, the incident began around 3 p.m. on Oct. 6 in Columbia Heights, when a group of males attacked a champagne-colored vehicle stopped at a traffic light, believing the two men inside the car belonged to a rival gang. After the vehicle pulled away, the passenger in that car called Drullard to inform him of the altercation. The driver of the champagne-colored car, the passenger and Drullard, traveling in a separate vehicle, spotted the group who attacked the car in a red Jeep. Passengers in all three cars exited the vehicles and a fight ensued in Petworth, on the 4400 block of 14th Street NW.

Two people, other than Drullard, were injured in the fight and were taken to the hospital. Navarette-Rivas is charged with two counts of assault related to those victims.

"There are a lot of complicated mitigating circumstances," Judge Ronna Beck said of the case just before accepting Navarette-Rivas' guilty plea.

Navarette-Rivas was arrested Oct. 20 and charged as an adult. He could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison for the voluntary manslaughter charge and three years on each count of assault.

Sentencing is scheduled for April 12.

This post will be updated with plea documents.

Christian Navarrette-Rivas to Concede Probable Cause in Fatal Hit-and-Run Gang Case

Laura Amico — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:44:03 -0500

A preliminary hearing for Christian Navarrette-Rivas was postponed again today. It is the second postponement for the case.

Navarrette-Rivas, who was 16 when he was arrested in October, is suspected of second-degree murder while armed. Prosecutors allege that he struck Miguel Angel Drullard Jr with a vehicle during a gang argument in the 4400 block of 14th Street NW on Oct. 6. Drullard died of his injuries.

Prosecutor JP Cooney and defense attorney Chiquisha Robinson told Judge Lynn Leibovitz Thursday morning that if a preliminary hearing happens, Navarrette-Rivas will concede that there is probable cause for the government to charge him in the case and will waive his right to cross-examine witnesses. Cooney said it was also possible that the case could be resolved before the next preliminary hearing date, which is Jan. 24.

Charging Documents Describe Gang Melee Before Fatal Hit-and-Run

Deirdre Bannon — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:10:36 -0400

The Maryland 16-year-old accused of killing Miguel Drullard in a gang fight earlier this month was ordered held Friday pending a preliminary hearing.

Christian Navarrette-Rivas, 16, is accused of intentionally striking down Miguel Drullard Jr, 22, with his vehicle, a red Jeep Liberty, on the 4400 block of 14th Street NW on Oct. 6. Navarrette-Rivas, from Riverdale, Md., is being charged as an adult. He was arrested Thursday in connection with the case.

According to court documents, the incident began around 3 p.m. on Oct. 6 in Columbia Heights, when a group of males attacked a champagne-colored vehicle stopped at a traffic light, believing the two men inside the car belonged to a rival gang. After the vehicle pulled away, the passenger in that car called Drullard to inform him of the altercation. The driver of the champagne-colored car, the passenger and Drullard, traveling in a separate vehicle, spotted the group who attacked the car in a red Jeep. Passengers in all three cars exited the vehicles and a fight ensued in Petworth, on the 4400 block of 14th Street NW.

In court documents, a witness said Drullard, who had a pit bull dog and a bat with him, approached one of the passengers that exited the Jeep and had been dropped to the ground. At that time, the witness heard the sound of tires and saw the Jeep approaching them at speed, striking the witness, the driver of the car and Drullard.

Drullard was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries a short time later.

The documents also state that all but Navarrette-Rivas had been drinking the afternoon the deadly fight took place.

“He didn't have alcohol, he should have had a level head,” Judge Diana Harris Epps said of Navarrette-Rivas when making her ruling.

During court proceedings today, Navarrette-Rivas' attorney, Chiquisha Robinson, argued that there were mitigating factors to show that there was not probable cause to charge her client with second-degree murder, including that he was not dangerous, there was no gun involved, and that Navarrette-Rivas has no prior record.

Robinson added that Navarrette-Rivas is young, and that court documents show a witness said Navarrette-Rivas’ expressed regret over what happened the day after the incident occurred.

U.S. Attorney J.P. Cooney argued that there was probable cause for the second-degree murder charge, saying that while there was no firearm involved, the Jeep was used in a premeditated act to strike Drullard, and that there were gang elements involved in the offense.

Navarrette-Rivas’ preliminary hearing has been set for Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m., in front of Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

Read charging documents below.

MPD Corrects Press Release on Arrest in Miguel Drullard Homicide

Laura Amico — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:20:13 -0400

A press release issued by MPD earlier today has been corrected, excluding language that said Miguel Drullard was shot.

The release states that 16-year-old Christian Navarette-Rivas has been arrested in connection with the case.

The newly issued press release is after the jump.

October 20, 2011

Arrest Made in the Homicide of Miguel Angel Drullard, Jr.

( Washington , DC )-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest was made in the homicide which occurred in the 4400 block of 14th Street, NW .

On Thursday October 6, 2011, at approximately 3:47 pm, units from the Fourth District responded to the 4400 block of 14th Street, NW to investigate the report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle that left the scene. Upon their arrival, they located a male lying in the street that was unconscious and unresponsive. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was subsequently pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 22 year-old Miguel Angel Drullard, Jr. of Northwest, DC.

On Thursday, October 20, 2011, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 16-year-old Christian Navarette-Rivas of Riverdale , MD pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him as an adult with Second Degree Murder while Armed.

16-year-old Arrested, Charged as Adult, in Death of Miguel Drullard

Laura Amico — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:16:06 -0400

A 16-year-old Maryland teen has been arrested and charged as an adult in the death of Miguel Angel Drullard Jr.

Drullard is believed to have been intentionally struck by a vehicle in Northwest DC Oct. 6. Christian Navarette-Rivas, of Riverdale, Md., is suspected of second-degree murder while armed in connection with the case, MPD said.

In a press release Thursday, MPD said Drullard was fatally shot. In a corrected version of the press release, MPD extracted this information.

October 20, 2011
Arrest Made in the Homicide of Miguel Angel Drullard, Jr.

( Washington , DC )-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest was made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 4400 block of 14th Street, NW .

On Thursday October 6, 2011, at approximately 3:47 pm, units from the Fourth District responded to the 4400 block of 14th Street, NW to investigate the report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle that left the scene. Upon their arrival, they located a male lying in the street that was unconscious and unresponsive. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was subsequently pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 22 year-old Miguel Angel Drullard, Jr. of Northwest, DC.

On Thursday, October 20, 2011, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 16-year-old Christian Navarette-Rivas of Riverdale , MD pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him as an adult with Second Degree Murder while Armed.