Howard Harold Williams | Homicide Watch DC

Lester Wright Sentenced to 12 Years for Second Degree Murder

Rebecca Zisser — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:55:37 -0400

Lester Wright was sentenced to 12 years in prison Friday for the shooting death of Howard Williams.

Wright pleaded guilty to second degree murder while armed in March.

Williams was killed in Aug 2011. According to charging documents in the case, Williams, Wright, and Wright’s aunt all lived together in an apartment on 18th Place NE. An argument between Wright and the two others in the house preceded the shooting, a witness told police.

The sentence was four years fewer than the government had asked for.

Defense attorney Madalyn Harvey asked Beck to give Wright a sentence lower than what is normally given for the crime because of Wright's lack of previous convictions and his character.

"Mr. Wright is one of the sweetest clients I have ever had and it makes me so sad to see him her," said Harvey.

"He is so remorseful for what he's done and I think a longer sentence will just harm him more. It's just not necessary and he's never going to do it again," she said.

Wright also apologized to the court for the crime himself. "I'm here to do anything I can to take responsibility for this crime," he said.

Beck's sentence came as a result of letters sent to the court of Wright's behalf and a recent mental illness diagnosis. "I am persuaded that he has an untreated mental illness and I do believe that Mr. Wright was truly remorseful," Beck said.

"Guilty" Plea in Death of 47-Year-Old Howard Williams

Laura Amico — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 17:33:41 -0400

Lester Wright pleaded guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of 47-year-old Howard Williams.

Williams was killed in Aug 2011. According to charging documents, Williams, Wright, and Wright’s aunt all lived together in an apartment on 18th Place NE. An argument between Wright and the two others in the house preceded the shooting, a witness told police.

Wright is expected for sentencing June 15.

A press release from the US Attorney's Office is below.

District Man Pleads Guilty to Murder In August 2011 Slaying in Northeast Washington -Victim Was Shot Multiple Times-

WASHINGTON - Lester Wright, 21, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed in a slaying that took place last year in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Wright pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Honorable Ronna L. Beck scheduled sentencing for June 15, 2012. Wright faces up to 40 years in prison.

At the plea hearing, Wright admitted that on August 6, 2011, he lived with his aunt and the decedent, Howard Williams, 47, in their shared one-bedroom apartment in the 300 block of 18th Place NE. That morning, his aunt argued with Mr. Williams. Afterward, Wright shot Mr. Williams five times in the back of the head and back. Then Wright fled from the apartment.

The police arrived a short time later and found the victim on the back porch. Mr. Williams died as a result of his injuries.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Detectives Gabriel Truby, Anthony Greene, Norma Horne and Joshua Branson and Crime Scene Search Officer Ivan Singleton. He also commended those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney and Victim Witness Advocate Lorraine Chase. Finally, he commended Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Cobb, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Lester Wright Pleads Innocent in Shooting Death of Howard Williams

Laura Amico — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:12:08 -0500

Lester Wright pleaded innocent today to a charge of premeditated first-degree murder while armed, according to court records.

Wright, 21, is charged in the shooting death of 48-year-old Howard Williams in Northeast D.C. According to charging documents, Williams, Wright, and Wright’s aunt all lived together in an apartment on 18th Place NE. An argument between Wright and the two others in the house preceded the shooting, a witness told police.

The indictment in the case is after the jump.

Domestic Disagreement May Have Led to Fatal NE DC Shooting Saturday, Charging Documents Hint

Laura Amico — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 14:10:44 -0400

Lester Wright was formally presented with a charge of second-degree murder while armed yesterday for the shooting death of 48-year-old Howard Williams Saturday in Northeast D.C.

Wright is expected for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 26 in front of Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

According to charging documents, Williams, Wright, and Wright's aunt all lived together in an apartment on 18th Place NE. An argument between Wright and the two others in the house preceded the shooting, a witness told police.

Read charging documents in the case after the jump.

Arrest Made in Shooting Death of Howard Harold Williams Saturday

Laura Amico — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:28:29 -0400

A shooting Saturday morning in Northeast DC killed 48-year-old Howard Harold Williams and a 21-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the crime, MPD said Sunday.

Williams was found with multiple gunshot wounds at about 9:56 a.m. Saturday. He died at a local hospital that same day.

Lester James Wright was arrested at about 10:30 Saturday night on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in the case.

MPD's press release is after the jump.

August 7, 2011

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 300 block of 18th Place, NE

( Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced an arrest has been made in the homicide that occurred in the 300 block of 18th Place NE.

On Saturday, August 6, 2011, at approximately 9:56 a.m., units from the First District responded to the 300 block of 18th Place, NE, to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they located a male victim who was unconscious, unresponsive and had sustained multiple apparent gunshot wounds. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. His remains have been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner pending an autopsy.

The decedent has been identified as 48-year-old Howard Harold Williams of Northeast, DC.

On Saturday, August 6, 2011, at approximately 10:25 p.m. members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 21-year-old Lester James Wright of Northeast, DC pursuant to an arrest warrant charging him with Murder Two While Armed in the shooting death of Mr. Williams.