Dewayne Wills | Homicide Watch DC

Arvel Wills Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison for Death of Cousin

Ivan Natividad — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:07:25 -0500

A judge sentenced Arvel Wills to four years in prison Friday in connection with the death of his 25-year-old cousin, Dewayne Wills.

During sentencing Friday, Arvel Wills was visibly upset, often wiping tears from his eyes with a sleeve or a tissue.

"What I did was wrong. It was an accident," Arvel Wills said Friday. "We were like brothers. I love my cousin. I'd never hurt my cousin at all."

Prosecutors said Friday that the death of Dewayne Wills was a tragic loss for the family and that Arvel Wills has been cooperative from the beginning of the investigation. Arvel Wills' defense attorney, Frederick Iverson, agreed and added that the death was an accident fueled by alcohol.

"It does matter to me that you have accepted responsibility from the beginning," Judge Ronna Beck said, addressing Arvel Wills. "I hope you find peace within yourself for what you did."

Family members, though, told police Dewayne Wills had gotten in a fight with his cousin, Arvel Wills. A CT scan revealed that Dewayne Wills suffered a four-inch skull fracture near his left ear, documents state. He would die nine days later.

More than three months later, Arvel Wills, 24, was arrested and held on suspicion of second-degree murder in his cousin’s death.

In October, he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Plea documents state that witnesses told police that around 4 a.m. the day of the altercation the two cousins were both intoxicated and arguing near the intersection of L Street and Abbey Place Northeast.

The argument turned physical when witnesses saw Dewayne Wills throw two punches at Arvel Wills, court documents state. Witnesses said that Arvel Wills then picked Dewayne Wills up by his head and legs and forcibly slammed him into the concrete street.

Arvel Wills then got on his bike and rode away, later calling police to report the incident, plea documents state.

Emotions ran high Friday as family members of both the defendant and victim sat in court weeping, some leaving the courtroom visibly shaken.

"As a family, we all forgive him with all our heart," Arvel Wills' aunt said to the court Friday with tears running down her face. "This was an honest accident. We're here to support him."

Sentencing documents have been added to this post below.

Wills, Arvel Sentencing Documents (PDF)Wills, Arvel Sentencing Documents (Text)

Arvel Wills Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter for Dewayne Wills Death

Ivan Natividad — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 12:58:25 -0400

Arvel Wills pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2012 death of his 25-year-old cousin, Dewayne Wills.

"I admit 100-percent that I did it," Arvel Wills said in tearfully entering his plea.

Court documents state that on May 26, 2012 Dewayne Wills was brought by a private vehicle to Washington Hospital Medical Center suffering from an open laceration to the head. Medical workers said he was intoxicated and claimed that he had fallen and hit his head on the sidewalk. But family members told police he had gotten in a fight with his cousin, Arvel Wills. A CAT scan revealed that Dewayne Wills suffered a four-inch skull fracture near his left ear, documents state.

After three days of medical treatment and constant swelling to his brain, Dewayne Wills went into a coma. He succumbed to his injuries on June 4; doctors ruled it a homicide by blunt force impact. More than three months later Arvel Wills, 24, was arrested and held on suspicion of second-degree murder in his cousin's death.

Prosecutors said Thursday that Dewayne Wills was killed after a verbal altercation turned physical.

According to plea documents, witnesses told police that around 4 a.m. the day of the altercation the two cousins were both intoxicated and arguing near the intersection of L St. and Abbey Place Northeast. The argument turned physical and witnesses saw Dewayne Wills throw two punches at Arvel Wills.

Dewayne Wills was then heard calling Arvel Wills a "Bitch a-- motherf---," witnesses said. Arvel Wills then picked Dewayne Wills up by his head and legs and forcibly slammed him into the concrete street. He got on his bike and rode away, leaving his cousin lying on the ground unconscious and bleeding from the head, plea documents state.

When interviewed by police Arvel Wills told detectives that he had been in a fight with his cousin, but blacked out when he attempted to lift him up over his head, court documents state.

Prosecutors in the case have recommended a sentence of four to six years in prison.

Arvel Wills is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Ronna Beck on December 18.

Plea documents have been added to this post.

Arvel Wills Plea Docs (PDF)Arvel Wills Plea Docs (Text)

Probable Cause Found Against Arvel Wills in Death of Cousin, Dwayne Wills

Penny Ray — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:32:59 -0500

Judge Ronna Beck found probable cause today that Arvel Wills caused the death of his cousin, Dwayne Wills, who died on June 4, 2012. Arvel was held pending indictment by a grand jury.

Wills is charged with second-degree murder; he rejected a plea offer last year that would have required him to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and a felony firearms possession charge. A tentative trial date is scheduled for June 3.

According to charging documents, the cousins engaged in a drunken argument that escalated out of control. Witnesses told police that the men began arguing at 4 a.m. near the intersection of L Street and Abbey Place Northeast on May 26, 2012.

At some point, the argument turned physical, and Dwayne threw a punch. Arvel then picked up his cousin over his head and slammed him head first into the pavement, according to documents in the case.

Dwayne was taken to the hospital by private vehicle with an open laceration on his head. He was intoxicated, had slurred speech, and he told doctors that he fell and hit his head on the sidewalk. A CAT scan revealed that Dwayne suffered a four-inch skull fracture near his left ear.

On May 29, 2012, Dwayne slipped into a coma. He died as a result of his injuries six days later.

Arvel Wills was arrested on September 27 and was found with a 9mm handgun, for which he did not have a license. He told detectives that he had been in a fight with his cousin on May 26, but had blacked out when he attempted to lift Dwayne over his head, according to documents.

Arvel also told detectives that after he realized his cousin was unconscious and bleeding, he got onto his bike and rode away.

A felony status conference is scheduled for March 7.

Arvel Wills Considering Plea Offer

Jonah Newman — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 13:15:02 -0500

Prosecutors offered Arvel Wills a plea agreement on Wednesday that would reduce the charges against him from second-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter.

Wills is charged in the May 26 murder of his cousin, Dewayne Wills.

Wills would also plead guilty to felony possession of a firearm as part of the deal, prosecutors said. When he was arrested, Wills was found with a 9 mm Ruger P89 handgun and 13 rounds of ammunition, for which he didn't have a license. He was also on supervised release for a previous felony conviction.

Wills is scheduled to appear in court again on Dec. 11, giving him a little more than a month to decide whether or not to accept the government's offer.

Arvel Wills Charged in Murder of Dewayne Wills

Jonah Newman — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:12:50 -0400

Arvel Wills appeared in court today for a preliminary hearing in the May 26 murder of his cousin Dewayne Wills, in what court documents indicate was apparently a drunken argument between relatives that escalated out of control.

The case was continued until Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m., when he is expected to appear again for a preliminary hearing.

According to police, witnesses said Arvel Wills, 23, and Dewayne Wills, 25, began arguing about 4 a.m. on May 26, near the intersection of L Street and Abbey Place Northeast.

At some point, the argument turned physical and Dewayne threw a punch, witnesses told police. Arvel Wills then allegedly picked up his cousin over his head and slammed him head-first into the pavement.

According to court documents, Dewayne Wills was brought by car to Washington Hospital Medical Center on May 26 with an open laceration on his head. A doctor's note indicates that he was intoxicated at the time and claimed that he had fallen and hit his head on the sidewalk. On May 29, Dewayne Wills went into a coma and he died as a result of his injuries on June 4.

Arvel Wills was arrested on Sept. 27 by officers with the Capitol Area Regional Fugitive Task Force. He was found with a 9mm Ruger P89 handgun, for which he did not have a license.

The affidavit for arrest for Arvel Wills appears below: