Friday, February 2, 2024

Video Surveillance Captured Defendant Firing Over 30 Rounds into Victims’ Vehicle

            WASHINGTON – Delonte Stevenson, 28, and Vorreze Thomas Jr., 26, both of Washington, D.C., have been found guilty by a jury of first-degree murder while armed, and related charges in the January 2021 shooting of Terrance Allen, 32, in Southeast Washington, D.C. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

            Stevenson and Thomas were also found guilty yesterday of conspiracy, two counts of assault with intent to kill, and various firearms related charges. The jury returned a verdict after less than a day of deliberations following a 13-day trial before the Honorable Marisa J. Demeo in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Sentencing is scheduled for April 19, 2024.

            According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, on the morning of January 18, 2021, Stevenson and Thomas’ vehicle intercepted a vehicle driven by Allen as it was leaving the Stanton Glen Apartments. Stevenson fired thirty-four shots with a rifle, while sitting in the front passenger’s seat, into the back of Allen’s vehicle. As a result, Allen was killed and two other passengers in Allen’s car were wounded. Allen was not the intended target; rather, Stevenson and Thomas were attempting to kill one of the other men in the car with Allen with whom they had a dispute.

            Following the shooting Stevenson and Thomas attempted to flee the scene. A nearby MPD officer heard the shooting, observed Stevenson and Thomas fleeing the scene and was given authorization to pursue. Stevenson and Thomas eventually crashed their vehicle at the intersection of 29th and Erie Street SE and successfully fled on foot. However, officers later located the murder weapon in the flight path. Police also recovered a cell phone belonging to Thomas from the crashed vehicle.

            Both men were arrested on February 17, 2021, and have been in custody since that time. The government’s evidence at trial included video surveillance, cell site records, ShotSpotter audio, body worn camera footage, ballistics evidence, and DNA evidence.

            This case is being investigated by Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jack Korba, Miles Janssen and Zach Horton.