Ronnie Deion Speight Jr. | Homicide Watch DC

Jamar George Sentenced to 15 Years for Death of Ronnie Speight

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 20:52:46 -0400

Jamar George was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for second-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of 20-year-old Ronnie Speight Jr.

George, 27, pleaded guilty in February to shooting Speight eleven times in an alley off the 5100 block of Jay Street in Northeast D.C. on May 26, 2011.

Family members present for George's sentencing told Judge John Ramsey Johnson they were unsatisfied with George's plea deal and asked that George be sentenced to the maximum end of the guideline: 40 years in prison without the possibility of parole.

Defense attorney Brian McDaniel said George was remorseful for what he did, and said George's plea was fair in this case.

"He is not a monster," said McDaniel. "He is worthy of an opportunity for a certain level of redemption."

According to plea documents, Speight, George, and a third man drove to the alley to commit a robbery which George had planned. George had organized the get-together to rob a drug dealer of multiple pounds of marijuana, charging documents state.

Outside the courtroom, one of Speight's family members said Speight was a law-abiding citizen.

"He never had run-ins with the law, not even a parking ticket." she said. "Material needs, and anything his hearts desired was provided for him by his family, not the streets."

Speight's 87-year-old grandmother, who identified herself as Ms. Short, said she could not believe the man who killed her favorite grandson was sentenced to only 15 years in prison.

"That wasn't enough, he was my heart," said Short. Short raised Speight, as her son after his mother died when he was three-years-old. She said she always dreamed of watching her grandson graduate from college and remembers him as being a "sweetheart," who loved his family.

Speight is survived by a two-year old daughter.

Jamar George Pleads Guilty to Slaying of Ronnie Speight Jr.

Kristian Hernandez — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 17:37:32 -0500

Jamar George, 27 pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder while armed in connection to the murder of 20-year-old Ronnie Speight Jr.

George admitted to the fatal shooting of Speight in an alley of the 5100 block of Jay Street NE on May 26, 2011.

“Yeah, that’s what happened,” George said at Friday's hearing.

According to charging documents, at approximately 4:15 pm George and Speight were riding in a third individual’s vehicle on their way to commit a robbery which George had planned. George told the driver to enter an alley off Jay Street and to stop the car.

Documents state both Gorge and Speight had exited the grey Kia Soul from the passenger side when George began shooting at Speight. George said he did not act in self defense.

Police discovered eight 9mm cartridge casings and two strike marks, indicating the shooter had stood over the top of Speight and fired down upon him.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 25. George haces 15 to 40 years in prison.

A copy of George's plea documents have been added below.

George, Jamar Plea Agreement (PDF)George, Jamar Plea Agreement (Text)

Jamar George Pleads Innocent to 2011 Slaying of Ronnie Speight Jr.

Penny Ray — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:03:37 -0500

Jamar George pleaded innocent Friday to the charge of first-degree murder while armed in connection with the shooting death of 20-year-old Ronnie Speight Jr.

George, 25, also pleaded innocent to related weapons charges.

Speight was shot dead in an alley in Northeast D.C. in May 2011; an autopsy revealed a total of eleven gunshot wounds to his body. A crime scene investigation discovered eight 9mm cartridge casings and two strike marks, indicating that the shooter had stood over the top of Speight and fired down upon him.

According to charging documents, prosecutors believe that George, Speight, and a third person were in a car together on the afternoon of May 26, 2011. George had organized the get-together to rob a drug dealer of multiple pounds of marijuana, and while in route, he handed a semi-automatic pistol to Speight, the documents say.

George directed the driver of the vehicle to an alley in the 5100 block of Jay Street Northeast, and he exited the vehicle from the front passenger side. After Speight exited from the rear passenger side, George opened fire on him, according to the documents.

Speight attempted to run away, but only took a few steps before collapsing to the ground. George then stood over Speight and fired multiple shots into his body.

After retrieving the handgun he had given Speight, George got back into the vehicle, and said, “F— that n—. F— me out of my money,” according to documents in the case.

Later, while serving a prison sentence for unrelated charges, the suspected driver of the vehicle told police about Speight's death.

A status hearing has been scheduled for February 15.

Jamar George Indictment (PDF)Jamar George Indictment (Text)

Substantial Probability found at Jamar George's Preliminary Hearing

Rebecca Zisser — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 17:47:20 -0400

Judge William Jackson found substantial probability today that Jamar George committed first-degree murder while armed in the May 26 shooting death of Ronnie Speight.

Jackson based his decision on the accounts of the multiple witnesses in the case including one that spoke with Speight on the phone just hours before his death. During the phone call Speight told the witness that if something happened to him he was with George and another person, according to charging documents.

At the preliminary hearing Thursday, MPD Detective Joshua Branson said that based on the call the witness believed Speight was "in some type of trouble."

George is currently serving a 2 year prison sentence after pleading guilty in Dec. 2011 to weapons charges. He will continue to be held at least until the end of that sentence.

George is scheduled for a status hearing on Oct. 12.

Jailhouse Interview Led Police to Suspect in 2011 NE DC Shooting

Rebecca Zisser — Thu, 31 May 2012 18:25:51 -0400

The jailhouse interview of a man present when Ronnie Speight was shot dead in an alley in Northeast DC helped lead police to the man they say fired the shots that riddled Speight's body.

Jamar George, arrested at DC Jail Wednesday, was presented Thursday with a charge of premeditated first-degree murder while armed. He is currently serving a 2 year prison term after pleading guilty in Dec. 2011 to weapons charges.

Speight was shot and killed May 26, 2011.

According to charging documents in the murder case, Speight, George, and a third person were in a car together the afternoon of May 26. George had organized the get-together to rob a drug dealer of multiple pounds of marijuana, the charging documents state.

Instead, a witness told police, George directed the car into the alley. He and Speight got out and the witness heard gunshots. In the car's mirrors the witness saw George shooting at Speight, the witness told police, according to the charging documents.

When George got back in the car, the witness told police, he said, "Fuck that nigga. Fuck me out my money."

George's defense attorney, James Whitehead, disputed the evidence in the case Thursday saying that the testimony of a jailhouse witness was unreliable.

George was ordered held on the charge pending a preliminary hearing. That hearing is set for June 22.

Read the charging documents below.

Jamar Delante George Arrested in May 2011 Shooting Death of Ronnie Speight Jr.

Laura Amico — Thu, 31 May 2012 08:07:19 -0400

A 25-year-old Northeast DC man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the May 2011 shooting death of Ronnie Speight Jr.

The man, Jamar Delante George, is suspected of first degree murder.

Speight was shot in the 5100 block of Jay Street, Northeast at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011.

A press release from MPD is below.

May 31, 2012

Arrest Made in Homicide
In the 5100 Block of Jay Street, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the homicide of Ronnie Speight, Jr. which occurred
in the 5100 block of Jay Street, NE.

On Thursday, May 26, 2011, at approximately 4:15 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 5000 block of Jay Street, NE, to investigate the sound of gunshots. In the 5100 block of Jay Street, NE, they discovered an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and transported the victim to a local area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 20 year-old Ronnie Speight, Jr. of Northwest, Washington, DC.

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012, members of the of the Homicide Branch arrested 25 year-old Jamar Delante George of Northeast, DC, pursuant to an arrest warrant and charged him with First Degree Murder in the shooting death of Ronnie Speight, Jr.

Funeral Services Tomorrow for Ronnie Speight

Laura Amico — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:24:44 -0400

Funeral services for Ronnie Speight, a 20-year-old DC man shot to death in the 5100 block of Jay Street, NE last week, will be held tomorrow at First Rising Mt Zion Baptist Church in NW DC, according to Speight's obituary.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. until time of service, 11 a.m. at First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 602 N St., N.W. Interment Harmony Memorial Park.

MPD Statement on the Death of Ronnie Deion Speight

Chris Amico — Mon, 30 May 2011 20:53:34 -0400

MPD has confirmed that Ronnie Deion Speight was the man killed in a shooting in the 5100 block of Jay Street NE on the afternoon of May 26, as reported earlier today by Homicide Watch.

**UPDATE: Victim Identified in Homicide in the 5100 Block of Jay Street, NE

(Washington, DC) - Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced the victim has been identified in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 5100 block of Jay Street, NE.

On Thursday, May 26, 2011, at approximately 4:15 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 5000 block of Jay Street, NE, to investigate the sound of gunshots. In the 5100 block of Jay Street, NE they discovered an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and transported the victim to a local area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

**The decedent has been identified as 20-year-old Ronnie Deion Speight of Northwest, DC.
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).

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.

Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to DC CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS and to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. If the information provided by the caller to the Crime Solvers Unit leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

"RIP Ronnie"

Laura Amico — Mon, 30 May 2011 09:55:47 -0400

A Homicide Watch reader has identified a man shot to death last week as Ronnie Speight, a young DC man known to friends as "Wease."

This morning MPD Spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump said the department has a possible victim ID and is waiting for confirmation from the man's family.

MPD asked for the public's help last week in identifying the victim of a fatal shooting. They said the man is a black male with a medium complexion, approximately 16 to 20 years old, about six feet tall and weighing about 165 pounds. He also has multiple tattoos on both arms and his neck. They read "RIP Pluck," "Wease," Lifes a Gamble" and "KAT" with a halo etched above the letters.

According to Facebook and Twitter posts from friends and family, Speight played football locally. According to MaxPreps.com, a high school football website, Speight played for the Roosevelt Roughriders two years ago. His height and weight were listed then as 5'10"/185.

"He will be missed. He wasn't the bad type he was just goofy and playful. This world all messed up," Tika Cristwell said of Speight on Twitter this morning.

More memories of Speight are after the jump.

MPD Seeks Help IDing Murder Victim

Laura Amico — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:27:17 -0400

MPD is seeking the publics help in identifying a man shot dead Thursday.

In a press release Friday evening, MPD said that the man is a black male with a medium complexion, approximately 16 to 20 years old, about six feet tall and weighing about 165 pounds. He also has multiple tattoos on both arms and his neck. They read "RIP Pluck," "Wease," Lifes a Gamble" and "KAT" with a halo etched above the letters.

Anyone with information can reach the police department at (202) 727-9099 or 1-888-919-CRIME (1-888-919-2746).

MPD's press release is after the jump.

Homicide: 5100 Block of Jay Street, NE

(Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch are investigating the fatal shooting which occurred in the 5100 block of Jay Street, NE.

On Thursday, May 26, 2011, at approximately 4:15 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 5000 block of Jay Street, NE, to investigate the sound of gunshots. In the 5100 block of Jay Street, NE they discovered an adult male victim suffering from gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded and transported the victim to a local area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The decedent has not been identified and the Homicide Branch is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the victim. The decedent is described as a black male, 16-20 years old, 5’11” – 6’ tall, weighing approximately165 pounds, medium complexion with multiple tattoos. The tattoos are displayed on both arms and neck, and include the following: tattooed on the right forearm is “RIP Pluck”, tattooed on the left forearm is “Wease”, “Lifes a Gamble” and “KAT “with a halo above.

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).

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.

Additionally, anonymous information may be submitted to DC CRIME SOLVERS at 1-866-411-TIPS and to the department’s TEXT TIP LINE by text messaging 50411. If the information provided by the caller to the Crime Solvers Unit leads to an arrest and indictment, that caller will be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.

Man Shot, Killed in Deanwood Thursday Afternoon

Laura Amico — Fri, 27 May 2011 07:44:40 -0400

Homicide detectives were on the scene of a shooting in Northeast DC Thursday afternoon, after a man was critically wounded by gunfire, the Washington Post reports.

The man was later pronounced dead at a local hospital, reports the Washington Times.

From the Times,

Officers responded to the 5100 block of Jay Street Northeast around 4:25 p.m. for a report of gunshots, police spokesman Officer Paul Metcalf said. When they arrived, they found an unconscious man with gunshot wounds.

The man has not been identified.