Three Men Plead Guilty to Shooting Father and Minor Son in December 2018

Friday, March 29, 2024

WASHINGTON – Jamal Matthews, Darnell Savoy, and Stefon Freshley, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to the December 28, 2018 shooting of a father and son in the Clay Terrace neighborhood of Northeast, Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Pamela Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, and FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Scott of the Washington Field Office.  The Honorable Michael O’Keefe scheduled sentencing for June 23, 2024.  

            According to the government’s evidence, the victims were in their SUV standing along the curb in the 200 blocks of 54th Street, Northeast, waiting for a friend to arrive so they could leave to attend a WWE wrestling event. As the victims waited, Matthews saw the SUV and mistook it for the same vehicle that shot at him and his cousin three days earlier. Matthews emerged from the Christmas Day shooting physically unharmed, but his cousin was killed. 

            Upon seeing the victims’ SUV, defendant Matthews immediately called another individual, who then called Freshley. Moments after speaking with that individual, Freshley and Savoy, who were a few blocks away, entered Savoy’s Nissan Altima and drove towards Matthews. Savoy was driving and Freshley was in the front passenger seat when they picked up Matthews at the corner of 54th and Clay Streets Northeast. Matthews got into the back seat of the Nissan Altima. Savoy drove into the 200 block of 54th Street Northeast. As they drove towards and past the victims’ vehicle, Matthews fired approximately 30 shots at the SUV. The minor victim was shot nine times, including in the head, abdomen, chest, and back. The adult victim sustained gunshot wounds to his leg and hand. 

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, FBI and the United States Attorney’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Kimberley Nielsen and Sharon Donovan.