Dietrich Baker | Homicide Watch DC

Dietrich Baker Sentenced to 23 Years for James Sherrod Murder

Clara Pak — Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:40:07 -0400

Judge Herbert Dixon sentenced Dietrich Baker to 23 years in prison Friday for the April 2012 death of 22-year-old James Ray Sherrod.

According to court documents, on April 28, 2012, around 1:40 p.m. police found Sherrod suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace NE near a bus stop. Sherrod was taken to a local hospital where he died.

Relying on the accounts of two witnesses and video from a surveillance camera, charging documents argue that Baker pulled out a handgun and shot Sherrod in the head at the bus stop. Then he shot him three more times in the body.

Two days later, Baker was arrested for second-degree murder while armed in the fatal shooting of Sherrod.

In April, Baker pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder charge while armed. His sentencing in August was postponed when Baker sought to withdraw his plea.

“There is a lot more to this case than people think,” Baker said in August. “There’s other witnesses that saw different things. There’s more to this case than me and my lawyer can bring to the table.”

A forensic evaluation was ordered by the judge and Baker's request to withdraw the plea was denied.

The 23-year sentence was agreed to by attorneys on both sides.

Dietrich Baker Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea in James Sherrod Murder

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 16:37:49 -0400

Dietrich Baker was scheduled to be sentenced Friday in connection with the shooting death of 22-year-old James Ray Sherrod. But before reading sentencing terms, Judge Herbert Dixon asked Baker if he wanted to speak to the court. Baker then stood and said that he no longer wanted to plead guilty.

"There is a lot more to this case than people think," Baker said. "There's other witnesses that saw different things. There's more to this case than me and my lawyer can bring to the table."

Sherrod was shot April 28, 2012, in the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace Northeast; he later died at the hospital.

Baker was arrested two days after the murder and waived his right to a preliminary hearing; a grand jury indicted him in January on charges of first-degree murder and several weapons offenses.

Baker pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in April. At that time, attorneys in the case agreed that 23 years in prison was an appropriate sentence.

Because Baker said Friday that he no longer wants to plead guilty, his sentencing is postponed, and a status hearing is scheduled for October 4.

According to plea documents in the case, around 1:40 p.m. on April 28, 2012, Sherrod and Baker were standing together near a bus stop in the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace NE when Baker suddenly pulled out a handgun and shot Sherrod in the head, causing him to fall. Baker then stood over Sherrod and shot him three more times in the body.

Prosecutors have not indicated what the motive for the shooting may have been, but court documents say that Sherrod was unarmed, and that he and Baker had not engaged in any type of argument prior to the shooting. Baker, though, said Friday that Sherrod had "offended" him. and his defense attorney, Eugene Ohm, argued that Baker was high on PCP at the time of the incident.

Prosecutors, though, denied any knowledge of the crime being drug related.

Dietrich Baker Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder in 2012 Death of James Ray Sherrod

Sam Pearson — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:59:40 -0400

Dietrich Baker pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the 2012 death of James Ray Sherrod.

Baker, 23, had been in custody since April 30, 2012 – two days after Sherrod's death. He waived his right to a preliminary hearing last year.

In January, a grand jury indicted Baker on first-degree murder charges and four weapons charges.

Under the terms of the plea deal, prosecutors and Baker's attorney agreed on a sentence of 23 years in prison. Judge Herbert Dixon is due to decide whether to accept the agreement and sentence Baker to that term June 28 at 9:30 a.m.

Charging documents relied on the testimony of two witnesses, in addition to a surveillence video. According to those accounts, Sherrod approached the bus stop, greeted Baker, and spoke with him briefly. “Within seconds, [Baker] produced a large handgun and started shooting at [Sherrod], striking him multiple times,” the documents stated.

He then ran across the street and behind a building, leaving a backpack in a dumpster. Police later found the backpack along with a gun with five spent cartridge casings and one live round inside the chamber, according to documents.

A copy of the plea agreement is below:

Dietrich Baker plea agreement (PDF)Dietrich Baker plea agreement (Text)

Dietrich Baker Arraigned on First-Degree Murder Charge

Sam Pearson — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:44:08 -0500

Dietrich Baker, already in custody for the 2012 shooting death of James Ray Sherrod, was arraigned in D.C. Superior Court Thursday on a new five-count grand jury indictment.

The grand jury charged Baker with first-degree murder while armed, along with four weapons charges. He pleaded innocent.

Baker had originally faced second-degree murder charges in Sherrod's murder near a Kenilworth Avenue bus stop. He's been in custody since April 30, 2012.

Baker waived his right to a preliminary hearing in June 2012.

He's due to return to court Feb. 22 at 9:30 a.m. for a status hearing before Judge Herbert Dixon.

The indictment is below:

Dietrich Baker Grand Jury indictment (PDF)Dietrich Baker Grand Jury indictment (Text)

Dietrich Baker Waives Preliminary Hearing

Laura Amico — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:46:00 -0400

Dietrich Baker waived his right to a preliminary hearing today, signaling that perhaps a plea deal is imminent in the second-degree murder case.

Baker is suspected in the shooting death of James Ray Sherrod near a Kenilworth Avenue bus stop on a Saturday afternoon in April.

Charging documents in the case rely on the testimony of two witnesses, in addition of a surveillence video. According to those accounts, Sherrod approached the bus stop, greeted Baker, and spoke with him briefly. “Within seconds, [Baker] produced a large handgun and started shooting at [Sherrod], striking him multiple times.”

According to the charging documents, Baker then ran across the street and behind a building, ditching a backpack in a dumpster. Police later recovered a backpack from the dumpster as well as a .357 caliber Taurus revolver with five spent cartridge casings and one live round inside the chamber of the gun.

Baker is due back in court for a status hearing Sept. 7, but attorneys said that they could be back sooner.

Dietrich Baker Held in Shooting Death of James Ray Sherrod

Laura Amico — Tue, 01 May 2012 16:20:56 -0400

Dietrich Baker was ordered held today pending a preliminary hearing on a charge that he shot and killed James Ray Sherrod near a Kenilworth Avenue bus stop on Saturday afternoon.

Baker, who was arrested Monday, appeared in court today to be presented with the second-degree murder charge.

Charging documents rely on the testimony of two witnesses, in addition of a surveillence video. According to those accounts, Sherrod approached the bus stop, greeted Baker, and spoke with him briefly. "Within seconds, [Baker] produced a large handgun and started shooting at [Sherrod], striking him multiple times."

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 23.

Charging documents are below.

Dietrich Baker Arrested in Fatal Kenilworth Shooting

Laura Amico — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:56:44 -0400

Dietrich Baker, a 23-year-old Northeast DC man, was arrested today in connection with the shooting death of James Ray Sherrod on Kenilworth Terrace.

Baker is suspected of second-degree murder while armed, MPD said.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

April 30, 2012

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 700 Block of Kenilworth Terrace, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace, NE.

On Saturday, April 28, 2012 at approximately 1:40 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 700 block of Kenilworth Terrace for the report of the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where he subsequently succumbed to his wounds and was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 22 year-old James Ray Sherrod of Northeast, Washington, DC.

On Monday, April 30, 2012, at approximately 2:45 pm, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 23 year-old Dietrich Baker of Northeast, Washington, DC, charging him with Murder Two while Armed in the fatal shooting of James Ray Sherrod.