Vanessa McGee | Homicide Watch DC

Ronald Pickett Sentenced in Shooting Death of Girlfriend Vanessa McGee

Penny Ray — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:34:15 -0400

Ronald G. Pickett was sentenced to almost 11 years in prison last month, after pleading guilty to the shooting death of his girlfriend, Vanessa McGee.

Pickett plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed in the case in June. McGee was shot and killed in March 2011.

According to documents filed by the government and signed by Pickett, Pickett and McGee attended a night club on the evening of March 4, 2011 with another person. At approximately 2:15 a.m. on March 5, Pickett dropped that person off at her home. Pickett and McGee began arguing on their way home, according to the government's evidence.

According to that same evidence, after arriving at their home around 2:30 a.m., Pickett decided to leave and he retrieved his 9mm pistol from the bedroom. As Pickett and McGee continued to argue, McGee slipped on the floor and fell into Pickett which caused the gun to fire and strike McGee in the top of the right shoulder, the government said. She died as a result of her injuries.

Ronald Pickett Takes Last Minute Plea Deal in Shooting Death of Vanessa McGee

Laura Amico — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:38:07 -0400

Ronald Pickett pled guilty today to one count of voluntary manslaughter while armed in connection with the shooting death of his fiance, Vanessa McGee.

Pickett was due to go to trial Monday on a charge of second-degree murder while armed

Pickett, who was 26-years-old when he was arrested in March 2011, told authorities that he accidentally shot McGee at their Southeast D.C. home.

At a preliminary hearing in the case, Detective Carter Adams testified that Pickett said he and McGee were arguing and he decided to stay the night elsewhere. While packing his belongings he picked up a gun and accidentally fired it when he was pushed or he tripped.

The bullet struck McGee in the shoulder, killing her, authorities said.

Sentencing is scheduled in the case for Sept. 14.

Plea documents have been added to this post.

Ronald G Pickett Plea Offer (PDF)Ronald G Pickett Plea Offer (Text)

"Not Guilty" Plea in Shooting Death of Vanessa McGee

Laura Amico — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:00:32 -0400

Ronald Pickett entered a plea of "not guilty" today at his arraignment on a charge of second-degree murder while armed in the shooting death of his fiance, Vanessa McGee.

Pickett, who was 26-years-old when he was arrested on March 5, told authorities that he accidentally shot McGee at their Southeast D.C. home early in the morning of March 5.

At his arraignment Thursday he was also charged with one count of possession of a firearm, to which he also pleaded innocent.

Judge Gerald Fisher set a trial date in the case for June 18. Pickett is expected in court Nov. 4 for a status hearing. He remains out of custody on personal recognizance.

Prosecutor Says Second Degree Murder Indictment is Only Days Away in Shooting Death of Vanessa McGee

Laura Amico — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:15:58 -0400

Prosecutors expect the Grand Jury to indict a Southeast D.C. man on Tuesday for the death of his fiance at their home in March.

Ronald Pickett was in court Friday for a status hearing when AUSA Charles Cobb told the court that he expects a second-degree murder while armed indictment on Tuesday.

Judge Gerald Fisher scheduled Pickett's arraignment on the charge for Thursday.

Pickett is suspected is killing Vanessa McGee in a shooting. In a preliminary hearing, Detective Carter Adams said Pickett said the night of the shooting, he and McGee were arguing and he had decided to stay the night elsewhere. While packing his belongings he picked up a gun and accidentally fired it when he was pushed or he tripped. The bullet struck McGee in the shoulder, killing her, authorities said.

Prosecutors have sought a charge of second-degree murder in the case, but at the preliminary hearing in March Judge Fisher ruled that there was not, at that juncture, enough evidence. Instead he found probable cause for a manslaughter charge.

On Friday Cobb indicated that with Grand Jury testimony from witnesses, the government is again seeking a second-degree murder charge in the case.

No Indictment Yet in Vanessa McGee Case

Karen Frantz — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:24:17 -0400

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Cobb said Wednesday that the government is making progress in a case against Ronald Pickett, a Southeast D.C. man accused of killing his fiance, Vanessa McGee in their home in March. Cobb said he had recently received the autopsy report and pictures of the crime scene.

Prosecutors have until early December to get an indictment in the case from the Grand Jury.

Pickett earlier told police that he accidentally shot McGee after an argument. As he was packing his belongings to spend the night elsewhere, he picked up the gun and accidentally discharged it, striking McGee in the shoulder.

Pickett appeared in court wearing a cream- and red-colored shirt and black pants. He was released from jail in March after Judge Fisher did not find probable cause for second-degree murder charges and instead found cause for a charge of manslaughter.

Homicide Memorials on D.C. Streets

Laura Amico — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:12:00 -0400

We pointed earlier today to Washington's Other Monuments photo of a memorial street shrine for Henry Kelly. The blog now has photos up of memorials for Vanessa McGee (photos) and Selina Knight (photos).

Do you have photos of street shrines that you'd like to share? Email us at homicidewatchdc [at] gmail.com.

Ronald Pickett released in Vanessa McGee Murder Case

Laura Amico — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:03:23 -0400

Ronald Pickett was ordered released from jail today where he was being held on suspicion of second-degree murder in the death of his fiance Vanessa McGee.

Pickett appeared in court wearing an orange jumpsuit for a preliminary hearing Thursday morning. Detective Carter Adams said Pickett told police that he accidentally shot McGee at their Southeast D.C. home early in the morning of March 5. According to Pickett, the two were arguing and he decided to stay the night elsewhere. While packing his belongings he picked up the gun and accidentally fired it when he was pushed or he tripped. The bullet struck McGee in the shoulder, killing her, authorities said.

Judge Gerald Fisher did not find probable cause for the second-degree murder charge prosecutors were seeking. Instead he found cause for a charge of manslaughter and, after determining that Pickett did not pose a danger to society, released him on his personal recognizance.

"There was an argument, but it's not like he was arming himself for the argument," Fisher said.

A status hearing is scheduled in the case for May 18. Charging documents in the case are here.

Ronald Pickett Ordered Held in Death of Girlfriend, Vanessa McGee

Laura Amico — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:50:45 -0500

Ronald Pickett was ordered held this afternoon on suspicion of second-degree murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Vanessa McGee, at their home in Southeast D.C. early Saturday morning.

Pickett appeared in court wearing jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt. A preliminary hearing in the case was scheduled for March 17 at 9:30 a.m. in Judge Gerald Fisher's courtroom.

According to charging documents in the case, a witness heard Pickett and McGee return home having an argument before the witness heard what sounded like a gunshot or a firecracker. Pickett then came to the witness and told it that he "had just accidentally shot" McGee.

In an interview with police Pickett offered that McGee "knocked on the door of their residence... [and] stated words to the effect of: 'Call the ambulance, I've been shot!'" He also told police that McGee had ordered him to leave the home and as he was packing his belongings she pushed him as he was holding a gun, causing him to fire the weapon.

Charging documents follow after the jump.

Ronald Pickett Due in Court Today

Laura Amico — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:46:10 -0500

Ronald Pickett, arrested Saturday in the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Vanessa McGee, is expected in court this afternoon on a charge of second degree murder. His case is expected to be heard in courtroom 201 sometime after 1 p.m.

Attackers in Separate Slayings of Two Women in SE D.C. May Have Known their Victims

Laura Amico — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 12:25:26 -0500

Two women killed in separate slayings in Southeast D.C. this weekend may have known their attackers, according to the Washington Post.

In the first incident, emergency responders found 36-year-old Selina Knight dead and with multiple stab wounds inside a home in the 3000 block of Nelson Place SE just after 11:50 p.m. Friday. No arrests have been made in the case, but MPD Lt. Robert Alder told the Post Knight and her attacker "may have known each other."

In the second incident, Ronald G. Pickett, a 26-year-old Southeast D.C. man, was arrested on suspicion of shooting and killing 36-year-old Vanessa McGee, who was found injured inside a home in the 4700 block of B Street SE at about 3:25 a.m Saturday. Pickett, reports the Post, is McGee's boyfriend.

In a comment on an earlier post about McGee, "Linetra" wrote:

You were trully our peace maker. The smallest one with the biggest heart. I keep going over this in my mind and as I sit here and type this I am broken, like I am writing you on a homicide page. FOR REAL………..Why would he do something like this really. I cant even imagine that I will never see you again or hear you talk.

Vanessa McGee Fatally Shot Saturday Morning; Ronald Pickett Arrested

Chris Amico — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 11:06:41 -0500

UPDATE: Ronald G. Pickett, a 26 year old Southeast D.C. man was arrested today on suspicion of shooting and killing 36-year-old Vanessa McGee of Southeast, D.C. early Saturday morning, MPD authorities say.

McGee was found injured inside a home in the 4700 block of B Street SE at about 3:25 Saturday morning. Pickett was arrested eight hours later on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Police say a woman was shot and killed around 3:15 a.m. near the 4700 block of B Street SE, according to WUSA.

Like Saturday's earlier homicide, this homicide was in the Sixth District and Ward 7, but it appears that the two homicides were unrelated. We'll update this post as more information becomes available.

Arrest Made in Homicide in the 4700 Block of B Street, SE

( Washington , DC ) —Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch announced an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting that occurred in the 4700 block of B Street, SE .

On Saturday, March 5, 2011, shortly before 3:25 a.m., units from the Sixth District were dispatched to the 4700 block of B Street, SE , to investigate the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they located an adult female inside a residence in the 4700 block of B Street, SE suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Personnel from the DC Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene and transported the victim to an area hospital. The female victim succumbed to her injuries and was later pronounced dead.

The decedent has been identified as 36-year-old Vanessa McGee of Southeast, DC.

On Saturday, March 5, 2011 at approximately 11:30 a.m. members of the Homicide Branch arrested 26-year-old Ronald G. Pickett of Southeast, DC and charged him with Murder Two While Armed.