Prosecutors extend murder accused’s plea deal

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Prosecutors extended the murder defendant’s plea deal by two weeks before District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan on June 27.

Jaleil Jones, 19, has been charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, robbery and two counts of criminal possession of a firearm for his alleged role in the fatal shooting and robbery of 44-year-old Robert Lavender in the 600 block of Monroe Street, NE on July 17, 2023.

Jones was absent from the hearing due to health reasons. His attorney, Kevann Gardner, requested that the plea plea remain open for an additional three weeks.

However, prosecutors said the plea deal offer would only remain open for two weeks. Both sides finally agreed.

Court documents indicate that officers responded to the scene after receiving a report of a shooting. They found an adult male who had died from his injuries. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, between the eyes; lacerations to the back of both arms; and abrasions to the left posterior shoulder, left forearm, and elbow area.

A 9 mm bullet casing was also found at the scene.

The sites are scheduled to return on July 11.

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