Keyon Caldwell | Homicide Watch DC

Keyon Caldwell Sentenced to 15 Years in PCP Killing

Sam Pearson — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:40:02 -0400

Keyon Caldwell was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years of supervised release on Sept. 21 for what prosecutors say was a PCP-fueled killing.

Prosecutors say Caldwell killed Draynell Henderson on April 11 at Henderson's home at 662 24th St N.E. A witness told officers that Caldwell was inside Henderson’s apartment and the two men, who were longtime friends, decided to smoke PCP together.

The witness was in a bedroom and heard gunshots from the living room. When the witness opened the door to the living room 15 minutes later, prosecutors say, Henderson was lying on the living room floor in a pool of blood, gasping for breath.

Caldwell was on the ground next to him clutching a handgun, according to prosecutors. Henderson was pronounced dead later that evening.

Officers thought the men looked like they had been using PCP, according to court documents.

Caldwell pled guilty April 30 to the charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed. He had been arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.

"I"m not denying anything," he said in court.

Prosecutors had requested 17 years, followed by five years of supervised release. Caldwell's attorney, Jason Downs, had asked Judge Thomas Motley for an 11.5 year sentence.

Keyon Caldwell Sentencing Memo (PDF)Keyon Caldwell Sentencing Memo (Text)

Keyon Caldwell Pleads Guilty in April 11 NE DC Shooting

Laura Amico — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:53:19 -0400

Today, just a little more than two weeks after his arrest, Keyon Caldwell pled guilty to one charge of voluntary manslaughter while armed in the shooting death of Draynell Paul Henderson.

Caldwell, 32, waived both a grand jury inquiry into the case and a trial by jury. At his initial court appearance he tried to speak several times.

“I’m not denying anything,” he said then.

According to charging documents in the case, just prior to the shooting, Henderson entered Caldwell’s 24th St. Northeast apartment and told Caldwell “I got something good for us.” The two men then left the apartment together. About 15 minutes later a witness, who was in the apartment’s bedroom, heard gunshots. The witness locked the bedroom door and yelled for help. A minute later the witness opened the door, went into the living room, and saw Caldwell lying on the floor clutching a handgun. Henderson was lying just outside the front door, gasping for breath.

When police officers arrived on the scene, both men were still lying on the floor. One of the first officers to arrive on the scene believed that Caldwell was under the influence of PCP. Henderson was pronounced dead later that evening.

Caldwell was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Judge Thomas Motley ordered a pre-sentence investigation into the case.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 26.

"I'm not denying anything," Keyon Caldwell says at Murder Charge Presentment

Laura Amico — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 16:53:18 -0400

Keyon Caldwell was ordered held today pending a preliminary hearing on a charge of second degree murder while armed; his defense attorney shushing him through much of the proceedings.

"Can I say something?" Caldwell asked, partially raising a shackled hand.

"I'm not denying anything," he said several times moments later as attorneys debated the merits of the case.

Caldwell was arrested Wednesday night in an apartment on 24th Street in Northeast DC. Police say he shot and killed 30-year-old Draynell Paul Henderson just after 8 p.m. that night.

According to charging documents in the case, just prior to the shooting, Henderson entered Caldwell's 24th St. Northeast apartment and told Caldwell "I got something good for us." The two men then left the apartment together. About 15 minutes later a witness, who was in the apartment's bedroom, heard gunshots. The witness locked the bedroom door and yelled for help. A minute later the witness opened the door, went into the living room, and saw Caldwell lying on the floor clutching a handgun. Henderson was lying just outside the front door, gasping for breath.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the case April 20 with Judge Thomas Motley.

Charging documents in the case are below.

Keyon Caldwell Arrested in Wednesday Death of Draynell Henderson

Lindsey Anderson — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:17:32 -0400

The victim of a shooting last night at the 600 block of 24th Street has been identified as 30-year-old Draynell Paul Henderson. Keyon Caldwell, 33, of Northeast D.C. was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed. Caldwell is expected to be presented this afternoon.

A press release from MPD is below:

April 12, 2012

Homicide and Arrest: 600 Block of 24th Street, 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 600 block of 24th Street, NE.

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, at approximately 8:12 pm, units from the Fifth District responded to the 600 block of 24th Street to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Upon arriving the officers located an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds who was unconscious and unresponsive. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The decedent was identified as 30-year-old Draynell Paul Henderson of Northeast, Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 33 year-old Keyon Caldwell of Northeast, Washington, DC was arrested. He has been charged with Murder Two while Armed in the fatal shooting of Draynell Paul Henderson.