District Man Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder While Armed in Triple Homicide in Southeast Washington

            WASHINGTON – Rakeem Willis, 31, of Washington, D.C., has been discovered responsible by a jury of fees stemming from the deadly capturing of three males, introduced U.S. Legal professional Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Division (MPD).  

            The decision was returned on Nov. 16, 2022, following a trial within the Superior Court docket of the District of Columbia. The jury discovered Willis responsible of three counts of first-degree homicide whereas armed and fleeing legislation enforcement. The Honorable J. Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for Feb. 10, 2023.

            In response to the federal government’s proof, on Jan. 26, 2019, at roughly 10 p.m., Willis lured the three victims — Sean Shuler, 26, Javon Abney, 26, and Tyrik Hagood, 24 — to a quiet, dead-end avenue within the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place SE, the place they have been shot quite a few occasions by gunmen. The three victims have been pronounced lifeless on the scene. A stolen Lexus sedan used within the murders was later discovered burning simply throughout the Maryland state line off of I-295. 

            Willis was arrested on June 11, 2019, after a automobile pursuit, and has been in custody since that point.

            In asserting the decision, U.S. Legal professional Graves and Chief Contee counseled the work of those that investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Division. Additionally they expressed appreciation for the help offered by the Capital Space Regional Fugitive Job Power and the FBI’s Mobile Evaluation Survey Crew. They acknowledged the efforts of those that offered help within the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace, together with Chrisellen Kolb, Chief of the Appellate Division; Lindsey Merikas, Deputy Chief of the Common Crimes Part; Paralegal Specialist Lashone Samuels; Lead Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; Supervisory Sufferer/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; Supervisory Sufferer/Witness Companies Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Sufferer/Witness Coordinators LaJune Thames and Maenylie Watson; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Litigation Expertise Supervisor Leif Hickling, and Litigation Expertise Specialist Charlie Bruce.

            Lastly, they counseled the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Spence and Ariel Dean, who investigated and prosecuted the case.