Malik Shabazz | Homicide Watch DC

Malik Shabazz Sentenced to 12 Years for Beating Death of Demetrius Dempsey

Penny Ray — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:43:34 -0500

Malik Shabazz, who legally changed his name from Maurice Yancey, was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for the murder of Demetrius Dempsey.

Dempsey, 34, died December 13, 2010, more than three years after being beaten in the face with a brick; his death was ruled a homicide in January 2011.

Shabazz was arrested in March 2011 and denied any involvement in the incident, claiming he was out of state at the time. Four days before his scheduled trial date, though, Shabazz pled guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the case; the first-degree murder charge was dismissed.

“I want to apologize to you as well as your family,” Shabazz told Dempsey's brother at Shabazz's sentencing Friday.

Shabbazz's defense attorney, William Roberts, and prosecutors agreed to the 12 year sentence, which was approved by Judge William Jackson. Roberts told the judge that Shabazz is looking forward to becoming a positive influence in the community upon his release.

“Mr. Shabazz tried to play the peacemaker in someone else's dispute and things went horribly,” Roberts said. “Mr. Shabazz does not deny that. He surely has a great deal of sympathy for Mr. Dempsey's family.”

According to the government's evidence in the case, on June 30, 2007, Shabazz and Dempsey exchanged punches after Shabazz became angry with Dempsey for fighting with a woman. After the brief altercation, Shabazz followed Dempsey for about a block, then picked up a landscaping brick and struck Dempsey in the skull. As Dempsey lay on the ground, Shabazz hit him a second time. Then, a group of young teenagers who had been following the incident began kicking Dempsey.

After the beating, Dempsey lapsed into a coma; he was hospitalized and transferred to a series of nursing homes until he died in Dec. 2010 from injuries to his brain.

James Sherrod Sr., Dempsey's brother, listed Dempsey under an alias while he lay in the hospital in order to keep him safe from further attacks, and even began his own investigation into his brother's death and convinced a crucial witness to work with cold case detectives to put together a case, according to court documents.

Sentencing documents have been added to this post.

Malik Shabazz Sentencing Document (PDF)Malik Shabazz Sentencing Document (Text)

Malik Shabazz Government Aid In Sentencing (PDF)Malik Shabazz Government Aid In Sentencing (Text)

Malik Shabazz Pleads Guilty to Beating Demetrius Dempsey with Brick

Sam Pearson — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:31:06 -0400

Malik Shabazz, whose former name was Maurice Lee Yancey, pleaded guilty Thursday to a 2007 assault on Demetrius Dempsey.

Dempsey died December 13, 2010, more than three years after being beaten in the face with a landscaping brick. His death was ruled a homicide in January 2011.

Shabazz was arrested in March 2011 on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed.

In charging documents, prosecutors accused him of being the person who wielded the landscaping brick.

He was indicted in Aug. 2011 on a charge of first-degree murder while armed and pleaded innocent at his arraignment soon after.

Today he pleaded guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter. He was scheduled to stand trial Monday.

Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 4.

Charging Documents in Case Against Malik Shabazz

Laura Amico — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:07:51 -0400

Note: An analytics report for the site showed multiple searches this week for information about Shabazz and I realized that I had neglected to post the charging documents in the case. My apologies. -Laura

Malik Shabazz, accused in the fatal assault on Demetrius Dempsey in June 2007, is due in court again May 9 for a felony status conference.

Shabazz, whose former name was Maurice Lee Yancey, is also known as Maurice Lee Mousey. According to charging documents in the case he is accused of stricking Dempsey in the face with a landscaping brick, causing blunt force trauma to Dempsey's head. Dempsey was cared for at a skilled nursing home after the attack until his death of septic shock in December.

Shabazz is being held at D.C. Jail on suspicion of second-degree murder. The case has not yet been indicted by the Grand Jury.

Charging documents are available here.

Arrest Made in Fatal 2007 Assault of Demetrius Ormon Dempsey

Laura Amico — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:58:13 -0500

A Northeast D.C. man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second degree murder while armed in the December death of Demetrius Ormon Dempsey. Malik Shabazz, 44, was arrested by members of the Major Case Cold Case Unit and the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, according to an MPD press release. Dempsey was assaulted in 2007; his death was ruled a homicide in January.

Arrest Made in 2007 Assault with Intent to Kill-Later Ruled Homicide Case

( Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a 2007 Assault with Intent to Kill which resulted in a Homicide.

On Saturday, June 30, 2007, at approximately 3:30 am, Sixth District officers responded to an assault in the 200 block of 54th Street, NE. An adult male was located and was transported to a local hospital where he was admitted. The victim remained in hospitals and nursing facilities the remainder of his life.

On Monday, December 13, 2010, the victim was transported to a local area hospital in an unconscious state and was subsequently pronounced dead. The victim’s remains were transported to the DC Medical Examiners Officer pending an autopsy.

On Monday, January 10, 2011, the manner of death was ruled a homicide resulting from complications of blunt force trauma.

The victim has been identified as 34-year-old Demetrius Ormon Dempsey of Northeast, Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, March 2, 2011, members of the Major Case Cold Case Unit along with the assistance of Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 44-year-old Malik Shabazz of Northeast, Washington, DC and charged him with Murder Two While Armed.