District Man Sentenced to 14-Year Prison Term in 2021 Slaying in Southeast Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, November 18, 2022

Defendant Shot the Victim as the Victim Sat in His Car

            WASHINGTON – Brian Foster, 40, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 14-year prison term for shooting and killing a man in Southeast Washington while the victim sat in his car, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

           Foster pleaded guilty in August 2022, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to second-degree murder while armed. The plea agreement, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for an agreed-upon sentence of 14 years in prison. The Honorable Rainey R. Brandt accepted the plea and sentenced Foster accordingly.  Following his prison term, he will be placed on five years of supervised release. 

            According to the government’s evidence, on Aug. 18, 2021, at approximately 12:40 p.m., the victim, Anthony Mitchell, 44, parked his car in the 3700 block of First Street SE. Shortly thereafter, Foster and two friends got into a nearby car and started smoking marijuana and PCP while listening to music.  After about eight minutes, Foster got out of the car, walked over to where Mr. Mitchell sat in his car on First Street, pulled out a handgun, and, at around 12:58 p.m., shot Mr. Mitchell twice, through the closed door of Mr. Mitchell’s car. The shots hit Mr. Mitchell in the left side of his face and in his left arm, left lung, and spine, killing him.  Foster then walked back to his own car, got in, and drove away, passing Mr. Mitchell’s car on the way.

           Foster was arrested on Oct. 26, 2021. He has been in custody ever since.

           In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department.  They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who handled the case at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Stephanie Siegerist and Victim/Witness Advocate Karina Hernandez.  Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter V. Roman and Deputy Chief Laura Bach of the Homicide Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, who investigated and prosecuted the case.