Howard Ricardo Sampler | Homicide Watch DC

David Robinson Sentenced to 10 Months in Prison on Weapons Charges

Penny Ray — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 18:26:22 -0400

Judge Stuart Nash sentenced David Robinson to 10 months in prison Friday in connection with the shooting death of 21-year-old Howard Ricardo Sampler.

Robinson pleaded guilty to three weapons charges in connection with Sampler's death in April.

Arrested on a charge of second-degree murder while armed, Robinson was never indicted on a murder charge. Instead a Grand Jury found the lesser charges of carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Prosecutors in the case say the investigation into Sampler's death remains "pending" to determine whether Robinson acted in self-defense.

Sampler was found shot in the 1500 block of 45th Street Northeast.

According to the plea agreement, Robinson fired a .40 caliber pistol at Sampler during an altercation that occurred around 6 p.m. on Jan. 3, 2012. Robinson told detectives he fired in self-defense.

Sampler died an hour later from multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Documents say thirteen .40 caliber shell casings were recovered from the crime scene.

Tejal Kothari, Robinson's defense attorney, said Friday that witnesses claim Sampler also had a firearm, and that she believes "the government has evidence that will corroborate self-defense."

Kothari further argued that if Robinson didn't have a gun, "someone else may be on trial for murder."

Robinson's plea agreement is below.

David Robinson Pleads Guilty to Weapons Charges

Vanya Mehta — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:00:00 -0400

Standing before Judge Stuart Nash on Monday morning, David Tyrone Robinson pleaded guilty to weapons charges in connection with the shooting death of Howard Ricardo Sampler in January 2012. Robinson no longer faces a charge of second degree murder.

Robinson pleaded to three charges in an indictment against him: carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition. Robinson was arrested in November 2012.

Prosecutors had argued that on January 3, 2012, Robinson was carrying a 40 caliber pistol in the Kenilworth neighborhood of D.C. when began fighting with Sampler. Robinson shot at Sampler in self defense, his attorney, Tejal Kothari, said.

In the court charging documents, Robinson was allegedly held by police and interrogated for several hours. Kothari alleges that the police officers did not read Robinson all of his Miranda Rights, skipping the question, “Are you willing to answer questions without a lawyer?”

Robinson is expected for sentencing at 9:30 a.m. on July 10, 2013 with Judge Nash.

Suspect Facing Weapons Charges, Not Murder, in Jan 2012 Death

Sam Pearson — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:48:40 -0400

A DC man arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder is expected to stand trial on much lesser charges in connection with the Jan. 2012 shooting death of Howard Ricardo Sampler.

The man, David Tyrone Robinson, was arrested in Nov. 2012. His arrest was announced along with two others in unrelated deaths by a press release from the Metropolitan Police Department.

The press release stated that Robinson was "arrested and charged with Murder Two while Armed."

The grand jury indicted Robinson last month on lesser charges – carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition – not the more serious charge of second-degree murder while armed. A trial in the case, scheduled to begin Tuesday, was delayed.

Sampler was found by police on Jan. 3, 2012 in the 1500 block of 45th Street N.E. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

According to court documents, Robinson was questioned by police officers May 11, 2012 and was kept for several hours in a police interrogation room. While there, according to a court filing by his defense attorneys, he told officers he shot Sampler after Sampler "threatened his life, brandished a gun and physically assaulted him."

Robinson said he closed his eyes and shot several times, stopping when he opened his eyes and saw that Sampler was no longer holding a firearm, the filing stated.

Robinson's defense attorney, Tejal Kothari, argues that that narrative, used by prosecutors to build the case, is invalid because officers didn't inform Robinson of his Miranda rights before the interrogation. Robinson also didn't voluntarily speak to police because he was kept in a locked room where leaving required entering a code on a security keypad, Kathari's motion argues.

A detective "undermined and misrepresented the rights at issue by claiming that Mr. Robinson would not be provided a lawyer during the interrogation," the defense argued. The detective read from a list of questions related to the Miranda rights, but Kothari says they skipped one: "Are you willing to answer questions without a lawyer?"

The same officers questioned Robinson again Nov. 27. The officers "repeatedly referenced the statements made during the first interrogation" and presented new evidence they had gathered in the months since, the motion said.

Robinson was then arrested, and the news release stating the second-degree murder charge issued. Documents filed with the court that day, though, didn't mention second-degree murder while armed and Robinson was presented with a weapons violation charge.

Several news reports identified Robinson as being charged with second-degree murder.

William Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said at the time Robinson was being held on the weapons charges while the homicide investigation continued.

Miller declined to comment on the case's current status.

Robinson's trial was due to begin Monday before Judge Nash, but both parties agreed to continue the case. Nash is scheduled to rule on the defense motion April 5. Earlier court records indicted Robinson was exploring a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Robinson's grand jury indictment:

David Robinson Grand Jury Indictment (PDF)David Robinson Grand Jury Indictment (Text)

Defense motion to suppress statements:

David Robinson Motion to Suppress Statements (PDF)David Robinson Motion to Suppress Statements (Text)

Charging documents filed in Nov. 2012:

David T Robinson Charging Papers (PDF) David T Robinson Charging Papers (Text)

MPD Arrests Three in Unrelated Homicides

Penny Ray — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 17:10:23 -0500

Metropolitan Police announced the arrests of three suspects in unrelated homicides today.

Steven Vondell Williams, 46, was arrested in connection with the shooting death of June Grace Lim.
Dennis Washington, 42, was arrested in connection with the death of Thomas Glenn Lipscomb.
David Tyrone Robinson, 20, is suspected of shooting and killing Howard Ricardo Sampler, though he has not yet been presented with a murder charge.

Lim was found dead inside the Grace Deli, which she owned, in June. Police believe robbery was the motive behind her death. Williams was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed.

Lipscomb was found unconscious in a residence in the 3400 block of Minnesota Ave. N.E. in April 2011. He was later pronounced dead as a result of blunt force trauma. Washington is charged with second-degree murder, according to police.

Police found Sampler in the 1500 block of 45th Street N.E. suffering from multiple gunshot wounds this past January. He was transported to a hospital where he later died.

A police press release says Robinson is charged with second-degree murder while armed. Bill Miller, spokesman for the US Attorney's Office, said Robinson is being held on a weapons charge while the homicide investigation continues. A copy of that charge is below:

MPD is holding a press conference at 5:20 p.m. today to speak on these arrests.

The MPD press release is below:

Arrests Made in Three Unrelated Homicides

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that arrests have been made in the three unrelated homicides.

Arrest in the Homicide of Hae Soon Lim in 700 Block of H Street, NE

On Thursday, June 14, 2012, at approximately 6:15 am, a First District officer was flagged down by a citizen who notified him of an unconscious person in the 700 block of H Street, NE. The officer located an adult female, inside a business establishment, suffering from what was later determined to be a gunshot wound. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and did not find any signs consistent with life. The victim was pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The decedent has been identified as 64-year-old Hae Soon Lim of Rockville, MD.

On Wednesday, November 28, 2012, 46-year-old Steven Vondell Williams of Northwest, Washington, DC, was arrested and charged with Murder Two while Armed in the shooting death of Hae Soon Lim.

Arrest Made in the Homicide of Howard Ricardo Sampler in the 1500 block of 45th Street, NE

On Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at approximately 5:55 pm units from the Sixth District responded to a call for a shooting in the 1500 block of 45th Street, Northeast. Upon arrival, they located the victim, an adult male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital. The victim later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 21-year-old Howard Ricardo Sampler of Southeast, Washington DC.

On Tuesday, November 27, 2012, 20 year-old David Tyrone Robinson of Northeast, DC, was arrested and charged with Murder Two while Armed for the homicide of Howard Ricardo Sampler.

Arrest Made in the Homicide of Thomas Glenn Lipscomb in the 3400 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE

On Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at approximately 12:00 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to a residence in the 3400 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. Upon their arrival they discovered an adult male unconscious and unresponsive. A member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner pronounced the victim dead.

On Wednesday, April 27, 2011, an autopsy was conducted by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia who ruled the death a homicide as a result of blunt force trauma.

The decedent has been identified as 49 year-old Thomas Glenn Lipscomb of Southeast, Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, November 28, 2012, detectives from the Homicide Branch arrested 42 year-old Dennis Washington of Southeast, Washington, DC, charging him with Second Degree Murder in the homicide of Thomas Glenn Lipscomb.

Memorials for David Robinson and Howard Sampler

Laura Amico — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 06:00:10 -0500

Washington's Other Monuments has photos of two street memorials: One for David Robinson and another for Howard Ricardo Sampler. See more photos at Washington's Other Monuments.

A memorial for David Robinson

A memorial for Howard Ricardo Sampler

NE DC Shooting Victim IDed as Howard Ricardo Sampler

Laura Amico — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:32 -0500

A man fatally shot in Northeast DC Tuesday night has been identified as 21-year-old Howard Ricardo Sampler of Southeast DC, MPD says.

MPD's press releas, and memories shared online, are after the jump. Share your own memories and thoughts in the comments below.

January 4, 2012

Homicide: 1500 Block of 45th Street, Northeast

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating the fatal shooting which occurred in the 1500 block of 45th Street, Northeast.

On Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at approximately 5:55 pm units from the Sixth District responded to a call for a shooting in the 1500 block of 45th Street, Northeast. Upon arrival, they located the victim, an adult male, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and transported the victim to local area hospital. The victim later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 21-year-old Howard Ricardo Sampler of Southeast, Washington DC.

The Metropolitan Police Department currently offers a reward of up to $25,000 to anyone that provides information which leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons wanted for any homicide committed in the District of Columbia.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the police at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746). Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.

Victim is Fourth Recent Homicide in Neighborhood

Laura Amico — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:30:31 -0500

The shooting that left a man dead Tuesday night in Northeast DC was just the latest episode of violence in a neighborhood that has been hit hard in recent weeks.

Since late October 2011, four people have been killed within a half mile of last night's shooting. Prior to that, no homicides had been reported in the area at least since October 2010.

The victims are: Domingo Ezirike, a 40-year-old cab driver from Maryland who was shot in a dispute on Oct. 22; Antonio Eugene Williams, who died in November after an assault he sustained in late October; Marcus Parham, 26, was fatally shot Nov. 9. The man who was killed Tuesday night has not yet been identified.

A total of ten homicides have been recorded within a mile of Tuesday night's shooting since October 2010.

Man Killed in NE DC Shooting

Laura Amico — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:56:43 -0500

A man shot in the chest Tuesday evening in Northeast DC has died of his injuries, WJLA reports.

He is the second homicide victim of 2012.

A DC Alert was issued at 6:08 p.m. stating that an adult male had been shot in the 1500 block of 45th Street NE.

In a report earlier this evening in the Washington Post and Washington Times, police officials said officers were called to the address just before 6 p.m. and that the victim, at that time, was semi-conscious, but breathing.