District Teenager Pleads Guilty to Murder Charge
In Killing of Another Teenager
- Slaying Took Place Last Month Near Recreation Center -

     WASHINGTON - Derek Johnson, 17, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second degree murder while armed in the slaying of another teenager last month, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Johnson, who was charged as an adult, pled guilty before the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He is to be sentenced on January 20, 2012. The plea, which is subject to the Court’s approval, calls for a sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison.

     According to the government’s proffer of facts, Johnson and the victim, 17-year-old Jamar Freeman, were friends. However, Johnson believed in September or October 2011 that Freeman had broken into his house and stolen personal items from him.

     On October 8, 2011, at about 7:30 p.m., Johnson rode his bicycle to the Raymond Recreation Center in Northwest Washington, where he encountered Freeman. Johnson at the time was armed with a knife. Johnson punched Freeman in the face or neck area, and the two began fighting by throwing punches and wrestling. During a lull in the fighting, during which time the two verbally taunted each other, Johnson removed from his clothing the knife, and Freeman began running away, toward the baseball diamond located in the park.

     Johnson swung the knife and buried it in Freeman’s chest. Freeman ran away down an alley, near the 900 block of Quincy Street NW, where he collapsed. He subsequently died that evening from a four-to-five-inch stab wound in his chest. Freeman had no weapon with him during any portion of the fight, and at no time was Johnson in fear for his life while fighting and stabbing Freeman.

     In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the
Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Violent Crimes Branch, along with MPD Detectives James Wilson and Gus Giannakoulias. U.S. Attorney Machen also praised the work of Paralegal Fern Rhedrick. Lastly, Mr. Machen thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeff Pearlman, who investigated the case.

11-509

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