Jeffrey Coleman | Homicide Watch DC

Melvin George Pleads Guilty to Voluntary Manslaughter in Fatal Beating

Imari Williams — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 17:03:42 -0500

Melvin George pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter Friday for the beating death of 46-year-old Jeffrey Coleman in May.

Coleman was found unconscious and bleeding from his face in the 2300 block of Pitts Place Southeast. He was taken to a nearby hospital where doctors inserted a catheter into his brain, documents say. Coleman, suffering from multiple facial fractures, never regained consciousness.

According to the proffer of facts, on the night of May 24, 2014, George, who had been heavily intoxicated, was at his girlfriend's apartment during a party. While there, he began questioning his girlfriend and another woman about their past sexual relationships, and asked to speak with his girlfriend alone in the back room, documents say.

Prosecutors say George then grabbed his girlfriend by the neck and threw her on the bed. She called 911 for help.

According to documents, once the party was over, George began interrogating Coleman about Coleman's relationship with his girlfriend. Coleman became upset because he believed the girlfriend had given George the wrong impression.

George's girlfriend suggested that Coleman leave and told him she would deal with George's insecurity. After hearing the word "insecurity," George walked back over to Coleman, knocked him to the ground, and beat him relentlessly, documents say.

According to prosecutors, George then proceeded to drag Coleman's body around in front of the apartment building, at one point partially picking him up and then dropping him on his head.

George is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on Jan 30, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Lynn Leibovitz.

A copy of plea documents are below:

Additional reporting by Amelia Rufer.

Melvin George Charged in Assault that Killed Jeffrey Coleman

Imari Williams — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 00:19:56 -0400

Judge Karen Howze ordered Melvin Kenneth George released under high-intensity supervision Thursday for the deadly assault of 46-year-old Jeffrey Coleman on May 24.

He was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with Coleman's death on Sept. 18, three months after the alleged assault.

Police found Coleman unconscious and bleeding from the face in the 2300 block of Pitts Place, Southeast. Coleman suffered from multiple facial fractures and doctors inserted a catheter into his brain, according to charging documents, but he never regained consciousness.

A witness told police that it and George, and another individual were playing cards in an apartment when George became angry, and an argument occurred, documents say. As the altercation escalated, the owner of the apartment told everyone to leave.

According to documents, the witness said while leaving, George followed them outside and continued the argument. George and Coleman were facing each other when George pushed and then kicked Coleman, knocking him to the ground, court documents say.

As Coleman was on the ground, George continuously beat Coleman in his head and upper body area, even as he lost consciousness, documents state.

On May 24, the night he was arrested, two witnesses identified George as the man who assaulted Coleman in a photo array conducted by police, according to documents. At the time, George was charged with aggravated assault. That case is still pending.

George is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m. before Judge John McCabe.

A copy of charging documents are below:

Melvin Kenneth George Arrested in Deadly Assault of Jeffrey Coleman

Imari Williams — Wed, 24 Sep 2014 18:29:15 -0400

MPD announced Wednesday that a 28-year-old Maryland man has been arrested in connection with the May 24 assault of Jeffrey Coleman, which resulted in his death on September 18.

The man identified by police as Melvin Kenneth George, 28, is suspected of second-degree murder, police say.

Coleman, 46, was found unconscious and bleeding from the face in the 2300 block of Pitts Place, Southeast. He was transported to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries three months later.

A copy of the press release is after the jump:

Arrest Made in Homicide: 2300 block of Pitts Place, Southeast

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced an arrest has been made in the homicide which occurred in the 2300 block of Pitts Place, Southeast.

On Saturday, May 24, 2014 at approximately 3:14 am, Seventh District Police Officers received a radio run for an assault. Upon arrival, they located an adult male victim who was unconscious and bleeding from the face. DC Fire and Medical Emergency Services personnel transported the victim to a local hospital where he was admitted in critical condition.

On Thursday, September 18, 2014, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at approximately 7:00 am. His remains were subsequently transported to the Richmond Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia where an autopsy was performed to determine the cause and manner of death. The cause of death was determined to be complications of a blunt force injury to the head and the manner was ruled a homicide.The decedent has been identified as 46-year-old Jeffrey Coleman, of Hyattsville, Maryland.

On Wednesday, September 24, 2014, members of the Homicide Branch arrested 28-year-old Melvin Kenneth George, of Oxon Hill, Maryland, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Second Degree Murder in connection to the death of Jeffrey Coleman.