Derrell E Bennett | Homicide Watch DC

Judge: Derrell Bennett "Fortunate" to Get 17-Year Sentence

Penny Ray — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 16:38:16 -0400

Judge Ronna Beck sentenced Derrell Bennett Friday to 17 years in prison in connection with the 2010 shooting death of 29-year-old Keith Banks.

After reading the sentencing terms, which were negotiated and agreed to by prosecutors and Bennett's defense counsel, Judge Beck said that Bennett was "fortunate" in agreeing to a plea deal. The acts that Bennett admitted to, Beck said, constitutes first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Wheeler said Friday that the government agreed to the plea because a key witness in the case had recently been involved in illegal activity that would "tarnish his credibility" with a jury, making it a little more difficult to try Bennett on a charge of first-degree murder.

"Knowing what happened and proving what happened are two different things," Wheeler said.

Bennett, 25, pleaded guilty earlier this month to second-degree murder in connection with Banks' death. It was the second time that Bennett had pled guilty in the case.

According to plea documents, a few days before Banks’ murder, Bennett sent him text messages demanding payment for drugs he fronted Banks in the fall of 2010.

On the day of the murder—Nov. 12, 2010—Reginald Vance was driving Bennett and Banks around Northeast D.C. when Bennett asked Vance to pull over in the 1100 block of Galloway Street so he could urinate. After Vance stopped the vehicle, Bennett pulled out a gun and ordered Banks out of the car, documents say.

Banks fled the vehicle and tried to run through a nearby park, but Bennett chased him firing several shots until Banks collapsed. Plea documents say Bennett then returned to the vehicle and ordered Vance to drive away.

Banks was found lying on the ground in Fort Circle Park suffering from multiple gunshot wounds; he later died at the hospital.

Vance pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact in April 2012; he was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in Banks’ death.

Derrell Bennett Re-Enters Guilty Plea for Murder of Keith Banks

Megan Arellano — Wed, 07 Aug 2013 21:01:06 -0400

Derrell Bennett pleaded guilty for a second time Wednesday to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the 2010 shooting death of 29-year-old Keith Banks.

Bennett, 24, first pled guilty in connection with Banks' death in December 2012, but in January he withdrew that plea.

The terms of Bennett's latest plea agreement say prosecutors will request that he serve no more than 17 years in prison.

According to plea documents, a few days before Banks' murder, Bennett sent him text messages demanding payment for some drugs he fronted Banks in the fall of 2010.

Documents say that in the early morning hours of Nov. 12, 2010, Reginald Vance was driving Bennett and Banks around Northeast D.C. when Bennett asked Vance to pull over in the 1100 block of Galloway Street so he could urinate. After Vance stopped the vehicle, Bennett pulled out a gun and ordered Banks out of the car, documents say.

Banks fled the vehicle and tried to run through Fort Circle Park, but Bennett chased him firing several shots until Banks collapsed. Court documents say Bennett then returned to the vehicle and ordered Vance to drive away.

Police found Banks lying on the ground in Fort Circle Park, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds: two to the back of the head and one to each arm. He later died at the hospital.

Vance pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact in April 2012; he was sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in Banks' death.

Bennett is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ronna Beck August 23.

Plea documents are below.

Bennett, Derrell Plea Docs (PDF)Bennett, Derrell Plea Docs (Text)

Derrell Bennett Withdraws Guilty Plea in Murder of Keith Banks

Penny Ray — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:40:08 -0500

Judge Ronna Beck granted a motion Friday to withdraw the guilty plea entered by Derrell Bennett last year.

Bennett pled guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of Keith Banks in November.

Attorneys in the case agreed that 17 years in prison was the appropriate sentence for Bennett, who was scheduled to be sentenced Friday. The motion to withdraw the plea was filed last week. Beck scheduled Bennett's new trial date for August 5.

According to the motion filed by defense attorney Brian McDaniel, Bennett entered his plea of guilty not because he was in fact guilty, but because he wished to take advantage of the negotiated plea offer.

Bennett was also worried that Reginald Vance would testify against him, leading to an erroneous verdict, the documents said. Had Bennett been convicted at trial, he would have faced a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison.

According to the plea agreement signed by Bennett last year, Banks and Bennett had been arguing about money owed to Bennett from a drug purchase that Banks refused to pay for.

On the morning of Nov. 12, 2010, Banks and Bennett were passengers in a sport utility vehicle driven by Vance. At some point, Banks was ordered out of the vehicle, chased, and eventually shot by Bennett. Vance and Bennett then sped away, according to the documents.

Banks later died at the hospital. An autopsy revealed two gunshot wounds to the back of his head and one gunshot wound to each arm. A total of six shell-casings were found along Galloway Street Northeast where Banks was found.

McDaniel, though, maintains that all of the physical evidence at the scene relates back to Vance, which includes a water bottle containing Vance's DNA and a broken light cover from a vehicle owned by Vance's girlfriend, according to documents in the case.

Vance pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact in April 2012, and was sentenced to three years in prison. He was given credit for time served and released.

A trial readiness conference is scheduled for July 19.

Plea documents and the motion to withdraw have been added to this post.

Derrell Bennett Motion To Withdraw Guilty Plea (PDF)Derrell Bennett Motion To Withdraw Guilty Plea (Text)

Derrell Bennett Plea Documents (PDF)Derrell Bennett Plea Documents (Text)

Reginald Vance Sentenced to Three Years in Connection with Death of Keith Banks

Penny Ray — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 14:55:16 -0500

Reginald Vance was sentenced today to three years in prison for his involvement in the 2010 shooting death of Keith Banks. Vance pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact in April.

Vance, who has been in custody since his arrest in Dec. 2010, was given credit for time served and at the sentencing Judge Ronna Beck signed an order for his release.

According to charging documents in the case, detectives believe that Derrell Bennett supplied Banks with $750 worth of drugs, for which Banks refused to pay. During this time, Vance and Banks were friends, and had plans to travel to Jamaica together.

On the morning of Nov. 12, 2010—one day before Vance and Banks were scheduled to fly out of the country—Vance drove Banks and Bennett in his tan SUV. At some point, Banks was ordered out of the vehicle, chased, and eventually shot by Bennett. Vance and Bennett then sped away in the vehicle, according to government documents.

At sentencing Friday, Judge Ronna Beck said there was sufficient evidence showing that Vance had nothing to do with the shooting, but had indeed been an accessory after the fact.

The documents concerning Vance's plea agreement have been sealed.

Sentencing documents have been added to this post.

Reginald Vance Release Order & Docket Entry (PDF)Reginald Vance Release Order & Docket Entry (Text)

Reginald Vance Sentencing Document (PDF)Reginald Vance Sentencing Document (Text)

Derrell Bennett Pleads Guilty in 2010 Keith Banks Shooting

Sam Pearson — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:40:28 -0500

Derrell Bennett pleaded guilty Friday to second degree murder while armed in the 2010 death of Keith Banks.

Prosectors say that Bennett, along with Reginald Vance, drove Banks to Fort Circle Parks. When they arrived, Bennett forced Banks out of the car, then chased and shot him. Vance, meanwhile, waited in the car and the two men fled the scene together, according to charging documents.

A witness identified a tan Chevy Tahoe as belonging to Vance that investigators believe he was driving at the time the crime was committed. Officers used data from cell phone towers to show the two men were together at the time of the crime, according to court documents.

Vance pled guilty in April to being an accessory to the crime and is due to be sentenced Dec. 21.

The plea agreement mandates a 17 year sentence for Bennett. He is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Ronna Beck Jan. 25.

Both men originally faced charges of first-degree murder while armed, but Beck found there was not enough evidence to pursue the charges.

Plea documents will be added to this post.

Guilty Plea in Fort Circle Parks Shooting of Keith Banks

Laura Amico — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:43:49 -0400

Reginald Vance has pled guilty to being an accessory in the fatal assault on Keith Banks in Nov. 2010.

Banks was 29 years old when he was shot and killed in Northeast D.C. near Fort Circle Parks.

Charging documents alleged that Vance drove Banks and Derrell Bennett, and then, while Bennett ordered Banks out of the vehicle, chased him and shot him, Vance waited for Bennett to return to the car. The two of them then fled the scene.

At his first court appearance, Judge Karen Howze declined to pursue the first-degree murder while armed charge which Vance faced. She did present him with the charge the following day after prosecutors reworked their documentation of the crime.

At the presentment with Judge Howze, Vance’s attorney, Eugene Ohm, argued that simply driving a vehicle involved in a crime did not make Vance a murder suspect.

“There is no evidence in front of the court that Mr. Vance knew the decedent would be shot,” Ohm said.

Vance and Bennett were each arraigned in Sept. 2011 on a charge of first-degree murder while armed in connection with Banks' death. Bennett is scheduled for a jury trial on the charge in August.

Court records show that much of the court proceedings from Vance's appearance last week are under seal and have not been made public. Though he is not listed as an inmate at DC Jail, according to VINELink records, the court docket indicates that he is in custody. He's scheduled for sentencing on June 15.

Reginald Vance and Derrell Bennett Plead Innocent in Death of Keith Banks

Laura Amico — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:22:53 -0400

Reginald Vance and Derrell Bennett pleaded innocent this morning to charges that they shot and killed Keith Banks in Nov. 2010.

Banks was 29 years old when he was shot and killed in Northeast D.C. near Fort Circle Parks.

Vance and Bennett were arrested in December. They were arraigned today each on a charge of first-degree murder while armed as well as weapons charges in connection with Banks' death.

A trial date has been set for April 17, 2012.

A copy of the indictment is below.

Derrell Bennett, Reginald Vance Indicted on First-Degree Murder in Death of Keith Banks

Laura Amico — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:12:30 -0400

Derrell Bennett and Reginald Vance were indicted Wednesday each on a charge of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of Keith Banks in Nov. 2010.

Both men were also indicted on two weapons charges. Vance was also indicted on a charge of being an accessory after the fact, "in that he relieved, comforted, and assisted Derrell Bennett."

Bennett and Vance are due to be arraigned Monday.

Read the indictment below.

Reginald Vance and Derrell Bennett Held in Death of Keith Banks

Laura Amico — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 18:07:54 -0500

A D.C. Superior Court Judge found probable cause Tuesday in the cases against two Hyattsville men charged with the shooting death of Keith Banks.

Banks, a 29-year-old resident of Northwest D.C., was shot on the edge of Fort Circle Park at about 3 a.m. on Nov. 12. Investigators believe he was driven to the park, ordered out of the vehicle he had ridden in, chased down and shot. He was found unresponsive and died that morning at a local hospital, according to police reports.

In a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Metro Police Homicide Detective Gus Giannakoulias told the court that police believe two men are responsible for the shooting: Reginald Vance, a 39-year-old barber from Hyattsville, Md. and Derrell Bennett, a 22-year-old Hyattsville man. Both are charged with first-degree murder.

According to Giannakoulias, Vance is believed to have driven a Chevy Tahoe that was used to have picked Banks up, driven to the park, and waited for Banks to be shot before speeding away from the scene with the shooter.

Bennett, to whom Banks owed a drug debt, is believed by police to be the shooter in the case, Giannakoulias said. Cell phone records indicate Vance and Bennett were together at the time of the shooting and Bennett is alleged to have sent a text message to a witness in the case warning the witness that he had "addressed" Banks and that the witness "was next," Giannakoulias said.

In an interview with Metro Police before he was arrested, Bennett told police that he "didn't have anything to do with the case" and was with his girlfriend that evening, Giannakoulias said.

While Vance's attorneys argued Tuesday that Vance and Banks were good friends who in fact had a vacation planned together at the time of Banks' death, Judge Ann Keary said that based on the evidence it appeared that Vance was a "willing participant in the actual attack on his friend."

At Keary's assessment, which came after a full day of testimony from Giannakoulias, Vance appeared to hang his head, shaking it as Keary found probable cause in his cause.

Keary also found probable cause in the case against Bennett, whose father was in court for the preliminary hearing. Keary said the cell phone records, text messages and witness accounts contributed to her decision.

Both men are being held without bail at this time while awaiting a Grand Jury report. They are due in court again March 3 for a felony status conference.

Derrell Bennett Charging Documents in the Death of Keith Banks

Laura Amico — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:57:33 -0500

A 22-year-old Hyattsville, Md. man has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of Keith Banks near Fort Circle Park in early November. The defendant, Derrell Bennett, listed also in court records as Ellery Eugene Bennett and Rell, Black and King, is currently in custody at D.C. Jail and is expected in court Jan. 4 for a preliminary hearing.

Also charged in the case is Reginald Vance. Vance is also due in court Jan. 4 for a preliminary hearing.

Charging documents are after the jump.

Second Arrest in Shooting Death of Keith Banks

Laura Amico — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:28:18 -0500

The Washington Post is reporting that a Hyattsville, Md. man has been charged in the shooting death of Keith Banks near Fort Circle Park in early November. According to the Post, 22-year-old Derrell Bennett was arrested Tuesday and charged with first-degree murder in Banks' death.

Bennett is the second man to be charged in the case. Reginald Vance, a 39-year-old barber also of Hyattsville, Md, was charged last week.