Jury Finds D.C. Men Guilty of Murder and Other Charges in August 10, 2017 Slaying of Jamahri Sydnor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 9, 2022

  Defendants Convicted of Daylight Shooting on Busy D.C. Street Corner, Killing and Wounding Innocent Bystanders

            WASHINGTON – Robert Moses, 23, of Washington, D.C., and James Mayfield, 22, of Washington, D.C., have been found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder while armed and other charges in a mid-day shooting that took place on a Northeast Washington corner on August 10, 2017, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Moses and Mayfield were found guilty by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of conspiracy, first-degree murder while armed (premediated), two counts of assault with intent to kill while armed (one with aggravating circumstances) one count of aggravated assault while armed (with aggravating circumstances), assault with a dangerous weapon, and related charges. Moses was also convicted with obstructing justice for his attempts to have another friend alibi him. Additionally, Mayfield is charged in a separate multiple-count indictment, including two counts of murder, for a three-day crime spree that occurred December 24-27, 2017. The verdict was returned on Dec. 8, 2022, following a seven-week trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing before the Honorable Maribeth Raffinan has not been scheduled. Moses and Mayfield face a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty years of incarceration for the crimes.

            On Aug. 10, 2017, at about 3:30 p.m., Moses and Mayfield, each armed with firearms, approached on foot the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenues Northeast.  Numerous people were outside at the time, in and around the busy neighborhood intersection.  Both Moses and Mayfield opened fire across Montana Avenue towards the people on Saratoga Avenue, collectively firing over ten rounds. As they did, Jamahri Sydnor, 17 years-old and the daughter of retired MPD Homicide Detective and Sgt Que Wallace, was driving through the intersection of Montana and Saratoga Avenues with her 12-year-old nephew, on the way to run an errand before her sister’s wedding rehearsal dinner.  Ms. Sydnor, who was days away from beginning her college education at Florida A&M University, was struck in the head by a bullet.  Incapacitated, she lost control of the car, and it crashed into another parked car.  Her 12-year-old nephew was injured by the shattering glass when the bullet traveled through the front passenger window before striking Ms. Sydnor.  A third victim was shot as he stood on the corner speaking with friends, while yet another innocent bystander shattered his leg, after throwing himself from his wheelchair, attempting to take cover from the hail of gunfire. 

            Following the attacks, Moses and Mayfield fled the scene.  Moses was arrested on October 26, 2017, and Mayfield was arrested on December 27, 2017.  Both have been in custody since their respective arrests.

            At the time of the alleged offenses, Moses was on release in a pending gun case in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
 
            In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).   They also acknowledged the efforts of those who are working on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Supervisory Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark; former Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker; Victim/Witness Security Specialists Robert Cephas and Lesley Slade; former Victim/Witness Security Specialist Wanda M. Queen; Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert, Lashone Samuels, and Grazy Rivera; former Paralegal Specialist Alesha Matthews-Yette; Lead Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity; Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Tasha Harris; and Supervisory Litigation Technology Specialist Leif Hickling. 

            Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Lenerz who provided Appellate support, Deputy Chief Sharon Donovan, who provided extensive forensic and DNA litigation assistance, former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah Sines and Glenn Kirschner, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sarah Santiago and Kimberley Nielsen, who investigated, indicted, and prosecuted the case.