Lamonte Hill | Homicide Watch DC

Lamonte Hill Sentenced to Nine Years in Death of Brian Bloomfield

Dana Jennings — Fri, 23 May 2014 17:57:15 -0400

Lamonte Hill was sentenced Friday to nine years in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the shooting and stabbing death of Brian Bloomfield.

Hill pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter as part of a plea deal that reduced his charges from second-degree murder while armed and a related weapons offense.

Police found Bloomfield on June 11, 2012 suffering from stab wounds and an upper gunshot wound at the 3400 block of 13th Place Southeast.

Bloomfield's family addressed the court Friday about their loss. "He acted more like a father to me than an uncle," said Khalilia Faunteroy, "His children had the best father in the world."

Hill apologized to Bloomfield's family and asked for forgiveness, saying, "I'm so disgusted with myself that I can't sleep some nights."

According to the proffer of facts, Hill and another man followed Bloomfield that night as he exited through the rear door of an apartment building. Then the two men assaulted Bloomfield, stabbing him several times and shooting him once.

Plea documents say Bloomfield grabbed a gun during the assault but he could not hold on to it because he was too severely injured. Hill and the other man left the scene with the gun and knife used to assault Bloomfield, according to the documents.

Hill's defense attorney Matthew Davies described the scene as confusing and said that Bloomfield was in an altercation with Hill in which Bloomfield had a gun and shot off Hill's pinky finger. After that, Bloomfild tried to leave the area in his vehicle, according to Davies.

Bloomfield's mother thought that any claim of self-defense was unfounded. "My son had his son in his car," said Frankie Smith, "My son would never have taken his son to commit a crime."

“There is no good ending here,” said Judge Johnson while handing down Hill’s sentence, “You can’t put a price like that on a human life.”

Lamonte Hill Pleads Guilty in Death of Brian Bloomfield

Kristian Hernandez — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 18:50:16 -0500

Lamonte Hill pleaded guilty Monday to voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the stabbing and shooting death of 26-year-old Brian Dewayne Bloomfield.

“It happened so fast, your honor, it got out of hand,” Hill said Monday at his appearance before Judge John Ramsey Johnson.

Hill, who is now twenty-years-old, could face a sentence of five to nine years in prison. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors dropped initial charges of second-degree murder while armed and a related weapons offense.

Hill's co-defendant, Taquia Allen, 21, also pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Allen admitted in court that she had lied to the grand jury in attempt to protect Hill.

On June 11, 2012, Bloomfield was found at approximately 7:15 p.m. unconscious, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and multiple stab wounds to the right torso and right thigh.

Prosecutors said that Hill and another man followed Bloomfield that night as he exited through the rear door of an apartment building at 3402 13th Place Southeast. Then the two men assaulted Bloomfield.

According to plea documents, Bloomfield grabbed a gun during the assault but he could not hold on to it because he was too severely injured. During the assault, Bloomfield was stabbed several times and shot once. Hill and the other man left the scene with the gun and knife used to assault Bloomfield.

Charging documents state that a witnesses told police that it saw one of the men stabbing Bloomfield repeatedly while the other man punched him. According to the witness, the suspect without the knife then took the gun from Bloomfield.

No other suspects have been arrested in connection with Bloomfield's assault.

Hill is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25 by Judge John Ramsey Johnson.

Plea documents have been added to this post below.

Hill, Lamonte Plea Documents (PDF)Hill, Lamonte Plea Documents (Text)

Lamonte Hill Pleads Innocent to Brian Bloomfield Murder

Megan Arellano — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 20:42:02 -0400

Lamonte Hill was arraigned Monday on a charge of second-degree murder while armed and a related weapons offense in connection with the stabbing and shooting death of Brian Bloomfield. Co-defendant Taquia Allen was arraigned on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice in the case. Both defendants pleaded innocent to the charges.

Bloomfield, 26, was found around 7:00 p.m. June 11, 2012, lying in a parking lot in the 3400 block of 13th Place Southeast.

According to charging documents in the case, witnesses told police they saw Bloomfield being beaten by two men near the backdoor of an apartment building in the 3400 block of 13th Place. One witness said he saw one of the men stabbing Bloomfield repeatedly while the other man punched him. Bloomfield reached for a gun that was sitting nearby, the witness said, but he couldn’t hold onto it because he appeared to be too severely injured. According to the witness, the suspect without the knife then took the gun from Bloomfield.

Bloomfield died from one gunshot wound to the chest and multiple stab wounds to the torso and thigh.

Hill is the only suspect charged with murder in connection with Bloomfield's death.

Taquia Allen is charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly attempting to hide Facebook communications she had with Hill.

The case is scheduled for a status hearing September 6.

The indictment is below.

Lamonte Hill Indictment (PDF)Lamonte Hill Indictment (Text)

Defense Attorney Says Witness Descriptions Don't Add Up in Brian Bloomfield Murder

Sam Pearson — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 17:19:17 -0500

Lamonte Hill's defense attorney sought to raise doubts Friday of the accuracy of witness identifications that implicate Hill in the June death of Brian Dewayne Bloomfield.

Prosecutors say Hill shot and stabbed Bloomfield in a parking lot in the 3400 block of 13th Place Southeast the evening of June 11.

Hill's attorney, William Roberts, asked Judge William Jackson Friday to turn over the identities of two key witnesses so that Roberts could conduct further research to prepare Hill's defense.

Roberts contends that the two witnesses said the suspect had short hair at the time of the attack, while Hill wore his hair in dreadlocks at the time.

Jackson said releasing the witnesses' identities was too dangerous. Hill has accomplices who have not yet been arrested, raising fears they could harm witnesses if knowledge of their identities spread, Jackson said.

"There may come a time where I will change my mind," Jackson said, "but not at this point."

Hill returns to court Feb. 22 for a felony status conference.

Lamonte Hill Held in Murder of Brian Bloomfield

Jonah Newman — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:10:45 -0400

A 22-year-old D.C. man who is suspected in the June murder of Brian Bloomfield has been arrested in South Carolina and brought to Washington, D.C., where he is being held without bond pending a grand jury investigation.

Lamonte "Nick" Hill was arrested on Aug. 10 in Columbia, S.C., on suspicion of shooting and stabbing Bloomfield. He was presented in D.C. Superior Court on Aug. 30.

According to charging documents, witnesses told police they saw Bloomfield being beaten by two men near the back door of the apartment building at 3402 13th Place Southeast, at about 7:15 p.m. on June 11. One witness said he saw one of the men stabbing Bloomfield repeatedly while the other man punched him. Bloomfield reached for a gun that was sitting nearby, the witness said, but he couldn't hold onto it because he appeared to be too severely injured.

According to the witness, the suspect without the knife then took the gun from Bloomfield. A second witness said he heard a single gunshot. An autopsy by the medical examiner determined that Bloomfield died from one gunshot wound to the chest and multiple stab wounds to the torso and thigh.

Police said surveillance cameras from nearby apartment buildings recorded Hill and another suspect in the area of the murder just before and just after the assault. In one camera, Hill and another man are seen walking toward 3402 13th Place at 7:11 p.m. Another camera showed Hill and the second man running in the opposite direction at 7:16 p.m. That camera captured Hill entering another apartment building on the block and exiting one minute later with a woman and young child. All three are seen getting into a car and driving away.

Hill is the only person who has been arrested in this case, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office said Tuesday. The case remains under investigation.

Hill is due back in court on Dec. 14th at 9:30 a.m. for a felony status hearing.

Charging documents are below:

Man Wanted for Brian Bloomfield Murder Arrested in South Carolina, Local News Agencies Report

Laura Amico — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:18:50 -0400

A man wanted by DC police for the June death of Brian Bloomfield has been arrested in South Carolina, local news agencies there report.

Earlier this month, U.S. Marshalls asked for the public's help in finding 20-year-old Lamont Hill, who was wanted in connection with Bloomfield's death.

Bloomfield was found shot and stabbed in a parking lot in the 3400 block of 13th Place Southeast the evening of June 11.

ABC News Radio, The State and WTMA report that Hill was arrested Friday at a friend's home in Columbia, South Carolina. He was taken to Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse, for arraignment and bond hearing.

Lamont Hill Sought in Death of Brian Dewayne Bloomfield

Chris Amico — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:59:29 -0400

Police are asking for the public's help in apprehending 20-year-old Lamont Hill, who is wanted for murder in the death of Brian Dewayne Bloomfield.

Bloomfield was found shot and stabbed in a parking lot in the 3400 block of 13th Place Southeast the evening of June 11.

The Washington Examiner reports that police obtained an arrest warrant for Hill in the days after Bloomfield's death, but they have been unable to locate him.

Marshals deputies are asking the public for information that could lead to Hill's arrest.

"Lamont is a violent offender and a danger to the community, said Deputy Tony Gause. "He needs to be caught ASAP before anyone else gets hurt."

Hill is listed as 5-feet-9 and 140 pounds. He is known to hang out in Congress Park or the 13th and Congress streets area of Southeast Washington.

Hill has an arrest history that includes arrests for assault, armed robbery and weapons possession.

A reward is being offered for the arrest and prosecution of Hill. Anyone with information regarding Hill's whereabouts is urged to call Deputy Gause at 202-427-0183 or the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-427-0183, 301-489-1717 or 800-336-0102.