Sharrod Peppers | Homicide Watch DC

"I ain't no killer," Peppers says at Sentencing for Murder of Rodney Bean

Penny Ray — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 13:41:59 -0500

Sharrod Peppers was sentenced today to nine years in prison for the 2010 slaying of Rodney Bean. Peppers pled guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter and one count of carrying a pistol without a license in connection with the case in October. He originally pled innocent and denied being anywhere near the shooting.

A teary-eyed Peppers appeared before Judge Ronna Beck Friday, adamant that he acted in self-defense, but willing to take responsibility for his actions.

“I wanna apologize to the Bean family,” Peppers said. “Things just got out of hand. It wasn't intentional; I was just trying to protect myself. I ain't no killer.”

Bean and Peppers, who were friends, were having a disagreement over a craps game that took place two months prior to Bean's death. The argument, however, reached a fevered pitch on the morning of October 30, 2010, according to the government's proffer of facts.

Peppers told Bean that he would be waiting in the parking lot of a Boys and Girls club in Northwest D.C. According to documents, Peppers waited, armed with a loaded 9mm pistol. And when Bean walked into the lot carrying a gun of his own, the two men opened fire on each other.

“These were two men meeting for a high-noon shootout,” argued Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Kerkhoff during pre-sentence allocution. “And Peppers got the best of Mr. Bean.”

At some point in the shootout, Bean fell face down on the ground, defenseless. Peppers walked over to Bean, who was still alive, stood over his body, and fired several shots into his back.

Bean suffered from six gunshot wounds to his torso and later died at the hospital.

According to the plea documents signed by Peppers, he did not believe he was in danger at the time he stood over Bean.

Defense attorney Brian McDaniel argued that Peppers feared for his life had he let Bean live.

“He didn't approach him to finish him off,” McDaniel said. “His actions were in the heat of passion.”

Before sentencing, Judge Beck stated that she felt the plea offer was on the lenient side, considering Peppers's actions after Bean fell to the ground, but she accepted the government's suggestion for sentencing as reasonable.

Sentencing documents have been added to this post.

Sharrod Peppers Sentencing Document (PDF)Sharrod Peppers Sentencing Document (Text)

Sharrod Peppers Pleads Innocent in Death of Rodney Bean

Chris Amico — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:26:08 -0500

Sharrod Peppers pleaded innocent Friday to five counts related to the shooting death of Rodney Bean on Oct. 30, 2010. Peppers is charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed in the case, along with several weapons charges.

A trial is set to start June 18, 2012, with a status hearing scheduled for Feb. 22.

Peppers, who appeared shackled and in an orange jail jumpsuit, said nothing during the brief arraignment.

A copy of the indictment is posted below:

Sharrod Peppers Arrested in Shooting Death of Rodney Bean

Laura Amico — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:23:06 -0500

Sharrod Peppers was presented with a first degree murder charge yesterday in the shooting death of Rodney Bean in Northwest D.C. in October 2010.

Peppers, 22, is expected in court again April 8 for a preliminary hearing.

According to charging documents in the case, Peppers was arrested after a witness identified him in a photo line up. That witness told authorities that Peppers and Bean were engaged in a shootout at 14th and Clifton streets NW at about 2 p.m. on Oct. 30. Bean fell to the ground during the shootout, at which point Peppers walked over to Bean and stood over him, firing "several shots" into Bean's body, the witness told authorities.

Bean was driven to the hospital where he was immediately taken into surgery, but he did not survive his injuries and he died that same day, authorities said.