Frank Lee Blanding | Homicide Watch DC

Frank Blanding Pleads Guilty to Assault in Benjamin Jennings' Death

Imari Williams — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 21:50:58 -0500

Frank Lee Blanding pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of aggravated assault for the fight that left Benjamin Jennings dead on July 6, 2014.

Jennings, 57, was found lying unconscious and unresponsive on Bladensburg Road Northeast after a confrontation with Blanding. He died a day later at a local hospital.

Blanding, 21, was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors agreed to drop remaining charges in exchange for Blanding's plea.

According to the proffer of facts, at approximately 10:06 p.m., Blanding and two other individuals in a green Dodge caravan stopped at a stoplight near an intersection when Jennings approached the passenger side asking for money.

After Jennings was told that no one in the vehicle had any money, Jennings then moved towards the driver's side of the van and asked Blanding for money. When Blanding told Jennings again that no one in the van had any money, Jennings cursed at Blanding, called him a "stingy motherfu**, and threatened to cut him, documents say.

Blanding then looked at Jennings hand, saw a silver object which he believed to be a knife, and got out of the van and confronted Jennings, according to prosecutors.

They argued, but Blanding began to get back into the van. Then Jennings said, "That's what I thought," (or something similar) and Blanding turned around.

Blanding went up to Jennings and punched him twice in the face, knocking him out instantly. He then got back into the van, waited for the light to turn green, and drove away while seeing in his rear-view mirror that Jennings was not moving and that people were helping him, documents say.

A witness in the van told police Jennings showed Blanding his butter knife while the traffic light was green.

Police found a silver table knife on the ground near Jennings when officers arrived, documents state

According to prosecutors, Blanding told police that he was angry, not scared, when he hit Jennings and acknowledged that he was not acting in self-defense.

Blanding will remain on high-intensity supervision until his next court hearing. He could face up to 10 years in prison, but defense will be asking that Blanding serve no jail time, according to Blanding's attorney Gabriel Diaz.

Blanding is scheduled for sentencing on January 30, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

Plea documents embedded are below:

Probable Cause Found in "Fatal Blows" that Killed Homeless Man

Imari Williams — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 12:09:41 -0500

A judge found probable cause Friday in the case against Frank Lee Blanding in connection to the death of Benjamin Jennings after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

On July 6, Jennings, 57, was found lying unconscious and unresponsive on Bladensburg Road Northeast after an altercation with Blanding. He died a day later at a local hospital. Blanding was arrested three days later on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in Jennings' death.

Documents say while at a stop light, Jennings approached Blanding's van and asked for money. When Jennings was told no, he threatened Blanding with a butter knife, until Blanding got out of the car and punched him twice, knocking him out.

Blanding, 20, is scheduled for a status hearing on Dec. 3 at 9:30 before Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

Police ID Benjamin Jennings as Man Killed in Bladensburg Road Beating

Chris Amico — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:16:36 -0400

MPD has identified a homeless man who died after an altercation on Bladensburg Road Northeast last weekend as 57-year-old Benjamin Jennings.

Police found Jennings lying unconscious and unresponsive in the roadway, according to a statement. He died a day later at a local hospital.

Frank Lee Blanding, 20, was arrested on July 10 on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter in Jennings' death.

According to court documents, Jennings approached Blanding, who was driving a van, at a stoplight and asked for money. When Blanding refused, Jennings called him "stingy" and threatened him with a butter knife, until Blanding got out of the car and punched him twice, knocking him to the ground, documents say.

Blanding was released under high-intensity supervision after a presentment hearing Friday.

A press release from MPD is below:

(Washington, DC) - Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that the decedent has been positively identified in the homicide which occurred in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast.

On Sunday, July 6, 2014, at approximately 10:06 pm, police officers from the Fifth District responded to a call for an aggravated assault/unconscious person in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast. Upon arrival, they located an adult male unconscious and unresponsive lying in the roadway. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

On Monday, July 7, 2014, at approximately, 5:45 pm, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

On Tuesday, July 8, 2014, an autopsy was performed on the decedent and determined the cause of death to be blunt force injuries of the head. The manner was ruled a homicide.

The decedent has been positively identified as 57-year-old Benjamin Jennings of no fixed address.

On Thursday, July 10, 2014, at approximately 4:00 pm, pursuant to a DC Superior Court Arrest Warrant, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 20 year-old Frank Lee Blanding of District Heights, Maryland charging him with Involuntary Manslaughter in connection to this homicide.

Suspect Says He Punched Man Who Asked Him for Money and Insulted Him

Megan Arellano — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 19:13:24 -0400

Update: The victim in this case has been identified as 57-year-old Benjamin Jennings. This post has been updated with his name.

Frank Lee Branding was released into high-intensity supervision Friday after his arrest Thursday. He is suspected of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the July 6 death of Benjamin Jennings.

Police found Jennings at around 10:06 p.m. unconscious and unresponsive, lying in the road of the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road Northeast. Jennings, identified in court documents as "John Doe," died a day later at a local hospital, and police believe his death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head.

Charging documents say Blanding punched Jennings twice and drove away after Jennings asked him for money, called him selfish and threatened him with a butter knife.

Hours after the incident, in the early morning of July 7, Blanding told police he was driving a van with three of his friends earlier that night. When the van stopped at a traffic light, Jennings went to the front passenger side vehicle and asked Blanding's friend for money, Blanding said.

When his friend replied that he didn't have any money, Jennings walked around the front of the vehicle and asked Blanding for money. Blanding said that he did not have any, and Jennings told Blanding that he was selfish, Blanding said.

Blanding told detectives he was unsure if the traffic signal was green or red at that point, but Jennings continued to tell him he was "stingy." Then Blanding said he told Jennings that even if he had a dollar, he wouldn't give it to him.

At this point, the men began exchanging insults and curses, Blanding told police. Then Jennings said something to the effect of, "I'm gonna cut you," and pulled "a silver knife" with part of the blade exposed from behind his back while standing on the median, according to Blanding.

According to another witness in the van, Jennings showed Blanding his butter knife while the traffic light was green. Instead driving away, Blanding got out of the car and struck Jennings twice in the upper body area with closed fists, the witness said.

Blanding told police he got angry and said something to the effect of, "You're not gonna cut me?" The two stood face to face, and they insulted each other again.

When Blanding got back into the vehicle, Jennings said, "That's what I thought."

Blanding then left the van again and struck Jennings twice in the head, and Jennings fell, hitting his head the ground, Blanding told police. According to Blanding, when Jennings hit the ground, part of his body was on the island and the other part lay in the opposite travel lane.

Blanding said he got back into the van, waited for the light to turn green, and drove off.

A preliminary hearing in this case is scheduled before Judge Lynn Leibowitz on July 31.

Charging documents and a press release from MPD are below.

Arrest Made in Homicide: 1200 Block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast

(Washington, DC) - Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast.

On Sunday, July 6, 2014, at approximately 10:06 pm, police officers from the Fifth District responded to a call for an aggravated assault/unconscious person in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast. Upon arrival, they located an adult male unconscious and unresponsive lying in the roadway. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

On Monday, July 7, 2014, at approximately, 5:45 pm, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

On Tuesday, July 8, 2014, an autopsy was performed on the decedent and determined the cause of death to be blunt force injuries of the head. The manner was ruled a homicide.

The decedent has not been officially identified at the present time.

On Thursday, July 10, 2014, at approximately 4:00 pm, pursuant to a DC Superior Court Arrest Warrant, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 20 year-old Frank Lee Blanding of District Heights, Maryland charging him with Involuntary Manslaughter in connection to this homicide.

Man Found Beaten in NE DC Sunday Night Dies of Injuries.

Laura Amico — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 15:28:26 -0400

A man found beaten Sunday night in Northeast DC has died of his injuries and police have ruled the case a homicide.

The man was found unconscious in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast shortly after 10 p.m. Sunday, July 6. He died the following evening. Police have not identified him.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

July 9, 2014

Undetermined Death Ruled Homicide: 1200 Block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast

(Washington, DC) - Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that the undetermined death, which occurred in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast, has been ruled a homicide.
On Sunday, July 6, 2014, at approximately 10:06 pm, police officers from the Fifth District responded to a call for an aggravated assault/unconscious person in the 1200 block of Bladensburg Road, Northeast. Upon arrival, they located an adult male unconscious and unresponsive lying in the roadway. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

On Monday, July 8, 2014, at approximately, 5:45 pm, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

On Tuesday, July 9, 2014, an autopsy was performed on the decedent and determined the cause of death to be blunt force injuries of the head. The manner was ruled a homicide.

The decedent has been not been officially identified at the present time.

The investigation is ongoing.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.