District Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Fatal Stabbing in Southeast

           WASHINGTON – David A. Hackney, 60, of Southeast, Washington, D.C., was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of a man in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu.

             On September 27, 2019, pursuant to Hackney’s guilty plea, the Honorable Milton C. Lee of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia sentenced Hackney to 15 years in prison. Hackney pled guilty to second-degree murder while armed in the killing of Chester Belfield at a prior proceeding on July 11, 2019. Upon completion of his sentence, Hackney will also be placed on five years of supervised release.

           According to the government’s evidence, on April 13, 2019, at approximately 2:30 p.m., members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) were dispatched to 1039 Southern Avenue, Southeast for a stabbing incident. Upon arrival at the scene, MPD located an adult male victim – later identified as Chester Belfield – unresponsive suffering from stab wounds to the body. Mr. Belfield was then transported to the District’s United Medical Center where he later died from his injuries.

           According to multiple witnesses, Hackney and Mr. Belfield engaged in a verbal confrontation. Witnesses then observed Hackney escalating the verbal fight by chasing Mr. Belfield across Southern Avenue, SE with a knife in his right hand. Mr. Belfield was not armed and tried to run away from Hackney. The witnesses then observed Hackney stab Mr. Belfield at least three times. Hackney fled the scene after killing Mr. Belfield. The witness’s testimony was further confirmed by a cellular telephone video that captured the entire incident from start to finish.

           Hackney was arrested on April 22, 2019, where he remains in custody until his sentencing.

           In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Liu, commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. She also expressed appreciation for the work of Supervisory Victim Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark and Paralegal Specialist Debra Forte. Finally, she commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nebiyu Feleke and Laura Bach who investigated and prosecuted the case.