Derek Johnson | Homicide Watch DC

Derek Johnson Sentenced to 14 Years for Petworth Playgound Stabbing

Laura Amico — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:53:15 -0500

Seventeen-year-old Derek Johnson was sentenced today to 14 years in prison for fatally stabbing former classmate Jamar Freeman near a Petworth playground in October.

Johnson apologized to Freeman's family for killing Freeman, who was 17 at the time of his death.

Defense attorney Premal Dharia said Johnson's remorse was real. The impact of the crime has "sunk in fully," she said.

Charging documents state that a “lifelong friend” of Freeman’s told detectives that Freeman and others were at the Raymond Recreation Center/Park when someone, now identified as Johnson, rode up to Freeman on a bicycle and grabbed him. The two threw each other around “as if they were wrestling,” the friend told detectives. That person also said that Freeman and Johnson were classmates at one time and that Johnson had “picked on” Freeman.

"It's very devastating to me and my family," Freeman's father, Michael Washington, said. "I understand these guys were friends. But anger and stuff like that doesn't have to escalate to that level. We grieving forever."

Leibovitz' sentence of 14 years was near the top of the agreed upon range for the plea agreement. Johnson could have been sentenced to as few as 12, or as many as 15, years. She said the fatal stabbing was "a terribly tragic result" of impulsive anger.

"When anger got the best of you, you took a person's life," Leibovitz told Johnson.

A press release, and a copy of the government's sentencing memorandum, are below.

District Teenager Sentenced to 14-Year Prison Term In Killing of Another Teenager- Slaying Took Place Last October Near Recreation Center –

WASHINGTON - Derek Johnson, 17, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 14 years of incarceration on a charge of second degree murder while armed in the slaying of another teenager near a recreation center, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Johnson, who was charged as an adult, pled guilty in November 2011 and was sentenced by the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Upon completion of his prison term, Johnson will be placed on five years of supervised release.

According to the government’s proffer of facts, Johnson and the victim, 17-year-old Jamar Freeman, were friends. However, Johnson believed in September or October 2011 that Freeman had broken into his house and stolen personal items from him.

On October 8, 2011, at about 7:30 p.m., Johnson rode his bicycle to the Raymond Recreation Center in Northwest Washington, where he encountered Freeman. Johnson at the time was armed with a knife. Freeman did not have a weapon and Johnson had no reason to be afraid of him. Johnson punched Freeman in the face or neck area, and the two began fighting by throwing punches and wrestling. During a lull in the fighting, during which time the two verbally taunted each other, Johnson removed from his clothing the knife, and Freeman began running away, toward the baseball diamond located in the park.

Johnson swung the knife and buried it in Freeman’s chest. Freeman ran away down an alley, near the 900 block of Quincy Street NW, where he collapsed. He subsequently died that evening from a four-to-five-inch stab wound in his chest.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Violent Crimes Branch. He especially cited the efforts of MPD Detectives James Wilson, Gus Giannakoulias, Joshua Branson, Norma Horne, Gabriel Truby, Anthony Greene, and Sgt. Andrew Fineklman. U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the work of paralegal Fern Rhedrick of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Lastly, Mr. Machen thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Pearlman, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

"Guilty" Plea from Teen Suspected in Petworth Stabbing Death of Jamar Freeman

Laura Amico — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:46:51 -0500

Derek Johnson pleaded guilty today in the stabbing death of Jamar Freeman.

Freeman, 17, was killed on Oct. 8 at the at the Raymond Recreation Center/Park. Johnson, also 17, was a former classmate of Freeman's. Under the terms of the plea agreement for second-degree murder while armed, he could be sentenced to 12 to 15 years in prison.

Charging documents state that a “lifelong friend” of Freeman’s told detectives that Freeman and others were at the Raymond Recreation Center/Park when someone rode up to Freeman on a bicycle and grabbed Freeman. The two threw each other around “as if they were wrestling,” the friend told detectives. That person also said that Freeman and Johnson were classmates at one time and that Johnson had “picked on” Freeman.

A statement from the US Attorney's Office this evening stated:

On October 8, 2011, at about 7:30 p.m., Johnson rode his bicycle to the Raymond Recreation Center in Northwest Washington, where he encountered Freeman. Johnson at the time was armed with a knife. Johnson punched Freeman in the face or neck area, and the two began fighting by throwing punches and wrestling. During a lull in the fighting, during which time the two verbally taunted each other, Johnson removed from his clothing the knife, and Freeman began running away, toward the baseball diamond located in the park.

Johnson swung the knife and buried it in Freeman’s chest. Freeman ran away down an alley, near the 900 block of Quincy Street NW, where he collapsed. He subsequently died that evening from a four-to-five-inch stab wound in his chest. Freeman had no weapon with him during any portion of the fight, and at no time was Johnson in fear for his life while fighting and stabbing Freeman.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2012.

A press release from the US Attorney's Office is below.

District Teenager Pleads Guilty to Murder Charge In Killing of Another Teenager- Slaying Took Place Last Month Near Recreation Center -

WASHINGTON - Derek Johnson, 17, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second degree murder while armed in the slaying of another teenager last month, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Johnson, who was charged as an adult, pled guilty before the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He is to be sentenced on January 20, 2012. The plea, which is subject to the Court’s approval, calls for a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison.

According to the government’s proffer of facts, Johnson and the victim, 17-year-old Jamar Freeman, were friends. However, Johnson believed in September or October 2011 that Freeman had broken into his house and stolen personal items from him.

On October 8, 2011, at about 7:30 p.m., Johnson rode his bicycle to the Raymond Recreation Center in Northwest Washington, where he encountered Freeman. Johnson at the time was armed with a knife. Johnson punched Freeman in the face or neck area, and the two began fighting by throwing punches and wrestling. During a lull in the fighting, during which time the two verbally taunted each other, Johnson removed from his clothing the knife, and Freeman began running away, toward the baseball diamond located in the park.

Johnson swung the knife and buried it in Freeman’s chest. Freeman ran away down an alley, near the 900 block of Quincy Street NW, where he collapsed. He subsequently died that evening from a four-to-five-inch stab wound in his chest. Freeman had no weapon with him during any portion of the fight, and at no time was Johnson in fear for his life while fighting and stabbing Freeman.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Violent Crimes Branch, along with MPD Detectives James Wilson and Gus Giannakoulias. U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the work of paralegal Fern Rhedrick. Lastly, Mr. Machen thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Pearlman, who investigated the case.

Derek Johnson Held in Stabbing Death of Jamar Freeman

Laura Amico — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:34:53 -0400

Seventeen-year-old Derek Johnson was ordered held today after Judge Robert Richter found "substantial probability" to Johnson killed Jamar Freeman in a stabbing earlier this month.

"Obviously there are various discrepancies [in witness statements], but given the statements of the eyewitnesses I find substantial probability; Mr Johnson had a motive," Richter said.

The preliminary hearing began on Friday and was completed Monday morning.

Johnson's attorney, Premal Dharia, argued that the witnesses accounts were unreliable. Three witnesses, she said, gave various stories at different times, recanted them, and described people suspects other than Johnson. Two MPD officers who were eyewitnesses to the crime, said that at least two people were involved in an altercation with Freeman, she said.

A status hearing has been set in the case for Dec. 21.

Comment of the Day: "As a teacher I have to ask myself what I could have done differently?"

Laura Amico — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 06:00:53 -0400

This comment of the day comes from Shamara Moore, who wrote in about Jamar Freeman and Derek Johnson.

These were two children. Boys who had been getting away with little petty inappropriate behaviors for years. Our system sets our young men up for prison life by allowing them to get away with stuff until they are old enough to trap them. Derek is not a bad person and yet his life is over because of a decision made at 17. He is not a man. He is not an adult. When are we going to save our children. We lost two children and countless lives have been altered forever. Who is responsible? Our children, community, children will only be saved through love and unity. We have to teach them a new way. There is no closure or healing for me in this. As a teacher I have to ask myself what I could have done differently? Every person that knew these boys should ask themselves the same. One thing I know is that change starts with me. U cant change the world only how u respond to it.

Teen Arrested in Petworth Stabbing Death of Jamar Freeman

Laura Amico — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:16:01 -0400

A 17-year-old from Northwest DC has been arrested in the shooting death of Jamar Freeman.

The teen, identified by police as Derek Johnson, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed. He will be charged as an adult, MPD said.

Freeman, also 17, died after being stabbed in Petworth earlier this month.

Court records do not yet indicate when Johnson is expected to be presented with the charge. Usually defendants first appear in court the afternoon after they are arrested.

MPD's press release is below.

October 19, 2011

Homicide Arrest: 900 Block of Quincy Street, NW

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department have announced an arrest in the fatal stabbing which occurred in the 900 block of Quincy Street, NW.

On Saturday, October 8, 2011, at approximately 7:25 pm, units from the Fourth District discovered a male suffering from stab wounds in the 900 block of Quincy Street, NW. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 17 year-old Jamar Michael Freeman of Southeast, Washington, DC.

On Tuesday, October 18, 2011, pursuant to an arrest warrant, 17 year-old Derek Johnson of Northwest was arrested and charged as an adult with Murder Two while Armed.