FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 19, 2023

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            WASHINGTON – Keith Green, 31, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty today to Assault with Intent to Kill for an incident in which he confronted Mr. Abdiel Velasquez Diaz, a Virginia resident, at Banneker Circle SW, and slit his throat with a box cutter. The plea was announced by United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department. Green pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of assault with intent to kill. He will be sentenced by the Honorable Robert Okun on March 31, 2023.

            According to court documents, on September 4, 2022, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Green approached the victim who was waiting for a taxi at Benjamin Banneker Circle SW. Green took out a box cutter and slit the victim’s throat with a box cutter. Green then attempted to cut the victim’s throat one more time, but the victim put his arm up in defense resulting in Green cutting the victim’s shoulder with the box cutter. Green attempted to strike the victim a third time, before the victim fended him off and sought the assistance of nearby witnesses. The victim was provided with emergency assistance and was rushed to the hospital where he received life saving treatment.

            Green fled the area and was spotted crossing southbound on I-395. Metropolitan Police Department officers pursued Green through oncoming traffic before eventually arresting him on a grass field on the 900 block of Ohio Drive SW. In Green’s flight path, officers recovered Green’s passport, a box cutter with blood on it, and a putty knife.  

            In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Allison Daniels. Finally, they commended the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Omeed A. Assefi, who investigated and prosecuted the case.