Robert Plight | Homicide Watch DC

Allen Culver Indicted in Murder of Robert Plight

Megan Arellano — Sun, 11 May 2014 14:50:36 -0400

Allen Culver pleaded innocent Friday to eight criminal charges including first-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of 31-year-old Robert Plight.

Detectives say that Plight was shot after he approached Culver and asked him why Culver robbed his younger brother.

On June 1, 2013, police found Plight in the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Arrest documents in the case state that Culver robbed a group of four men including Plight’s brother as they walked from a gas station on the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast. Before the robbery, Culver asked the group what they had in their pockets and added, “Are you willing to die for your money?”

After the robbery, Culver allowed the group to leave, but the men returned accompanied by Plight. Charging documents say witnesses told police that Culver pulled a handgun from his pocket and shot Plight once in the chest when Plight questioned him about the alleged robbery attempt. Then Culver ran from the scene into a building on the 200 block of 43rd Road NE, according to police.

Charging documents say that Plight’s younger brother and friends followed Culver into the building and a fight ensued leaving Culver with cuts and bruises on his face.

A status hearing is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on June 27 before Judge Russell Canan.

An indictment has been added to the post below.

Judge: Substantial Probability Found in Murder of Robert Plight

Ivan Natividad — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 13:26:21 -0400

Judge Russell Canan found substantial probability Monday in the case against Allen Culver. Prosecutors have charged Culver with the shooting death of 31-year-old Robert Plight. Culver remains held pending a grand jury investigation.

Police found Plight on June 1 around 8:10 pm on the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Plight was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two weeks later, Culver, 24, was arrested and held on suspicion of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Plight's death.

At a preliminary hearing Monday, Metropolitan Police Detective Marvin Washington testified that witnesses told police that Plight was shot and killed after Culver robbed Plight's brother.

"[Plight] approached Mr. Culver and asked him why he committed the robbery," Washington said. "Culver then pulled out a gun and shot him once."

Arrest documents in the case state that Culver robbed Plight’s brother, and friends, as they walked from a gas station on the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast.

Witnesses told police that Culver said to the group, “I don’t want to fight. What you have in your pockets?” documents state. Culver then began patting the group down saying, “Are you willing to die for your money?”

Culver let the group leave, but they returned minutes later accompanied by Plight.

Witnesses told police that when Plight approached Culver and questioned him about the alleged robbery attempt, Culver pulled a handgun from his pocket and shot Plight once in the chest. Culver then ran into a building on the 200 block of 43rd Road NE, according to police.

Charging documents say that Plight’s younger brother and friends followed Culver into the building and a fight ensued leaving Culver with cuts and bruises on his face.

A felony status conference is scheduled for December 13.

Allen Wayne Culver Held in Connection with Robert Plight Murder

Penny Ray — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:52:25 -0400

Allen Wayne Culver was ordered held Saturday on a charge of second-degree murder while armed pending a preliminary hearing scheduled July 1 in connection with the shooting death of 31-year-old Robert Plight.

Prosecutors allege Culver, 24, shot and killed Plight after being confronted for attempting to rob Plight's younger brother.

Arrest documents in the case say that Plight's brother and friends were approached from behind by Culver as they walked from a gas station in the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast.

“I don't want to fight,” Culver told the group according to the documents. “What you have in your pockets?”

Plight's brother told police Culver then began patting him down and said, “Are you willing to die for your money?”

Culver then patted down others in the group and let them all leave, but they returned minutes later accompanied by Robert Plight.

Witnesses say that when Plight approached Culver and questioned him about the attempted robbery, Culver pulled a handgun from his pocket and shot him once in the chest. Culver then fled the scene and ran into a building in the 200 block of 43rd Road NE.

Charging documents say that Plight's younger brother and friends followed Culver into the building and a fight ensued which left Culver with cuts and bruises on his face.

Plight died at Prince George's Hospital Center around 8:45 p.m. June 1, approximately 30 minutes after he was shot in the 400 block of Benning Road NE.

Culver was later identified by Plight's brother through a photograph lineup, and charging documents say that two other people called detectives and identified Culver after seeing surveillance video aired by local media.

Charging documents are below.

Allen Culver Arrest Documents (PDF)Allen Culver Arrest Documents (Text)

Allen Culver Arrested Friday in Connection with Robert Plight Murder

Penny Ray — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:20:29 -0400

A Southeast D.C. man has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of 31-year-old Robert Plight.

Police arrested Allen Culver, 24, Friday on a charge of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Plight's death.

Plight was shot in the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast on June 1; he later died at the hospital. Police released surveillance video of the suspect two days later.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

Arrest Made in Homicide: 4400 Block of Benning Road, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 4400 block of Benning Road, Northeast.

On Saturday, June 1, 2013 at approximately 8:10 pm, officers from the Sixth District responded to the 4400 block of Benning Road, NE for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 31 year-old Robert Plight of Northeast, Washington, DC.

On Friday, June 14, 2013, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Forced arrested 24-year-old Allen Culver of Southeast, DC, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Second Degree Murder while Armed in the shooting death of Robert Plight.

The Metropolitan Police Department would like to thank our partners in the media for broadcasting the YouTube video associated with this case.

Surveillence Video of "Person of Interest" in Shooting Death of Robert Plight

Laura Amico — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:54:37 -0400

MPD has released a surveillence video of a "person of interest" in the Saturday shooting death of Robert Plight.

The video shows a black male with long dreadlocks wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt entering a convenience store, purchasing an item, and leaving.

Robert Plight Killed in Saturday Evening Shooting in NE DC

Laura Amico — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 17:14:22 -0400

A shooting Saturday night in the 4400 block of Benning Road Northeast killed a 31-year-old Northeast DC man, police said Sunday.

That man, identified as Robert Plight, was found shot shortly after 8 p.m. He was taken to a hospital where he died.

A press release from MPD is after the jump.

June 2, 2013

Homicide: 4400 Block of Benning Road, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating a fatal shooting which occurred in the 4400 block of Benning Road, Northeast.

On Saturday, June 1, 2013 at approximately 8:10 pm, officers from the Sixth District responded to the 4400 block of Benning Road, NE for the report of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they located an adult male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Personnel from DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported the victim to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.

The decedent is identified as 31 year-old Robert Plight of Northeast, 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. Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411.