District Man Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison for
Brutal Slaying of 16-Year-Old Boy in 2006

WASHINGTON - A 21-year-old man, Daniel Richard Proctor, Jr., was sentenced this morning to 276 months (23 years) of incarceration for fatally shooting 16-year-old Cequawn Brown in September of 2006, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced today.

Proctor, most recently of Southeast Washington, D.C., was scheduled to face trial in September 2008 on charges of First Degree Murder while Armed, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence or Dangerous Offense, and related weapons charges related to Mr. Brown's death. After hearing police testimony in pretrial motions, the defendant indicated through his attorney that he wished to plead guilty. The defendant then entered his guilty plea on September 30, 2008, to Second Degree Murder while Armed before the Honorable Geoffrey M. Alprin. The remaining charges were dismissed at sentencing.

According to the government's evidence, on September 25, 2006, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Proctor was standing on the corner of 53rd and Astor Place, SE, when he was approached by Cequawn Brown, who at that time was two days shy of his 17th birthday. The two spoke, and an argument ensued. When Cequawn Brown turned to walk away, Proctor drew a pistol and shot him in the back of the head. Mr. Brown fell to the ground, and the defendant then stood over him and fired a second shot, which struck the decedent's back. The defendant then left the scene. Approximately 3 weeks later, the defendant was arrested buying ammunition consistent in caliber with that used to shoot Mr. Brown.

Prior to imposing sentence today, Judge Alprin heard from both the victim's mother and his grandmother, as well as the mother of the defendant's children. The defendant spoke and apologized to the family of the victim. The judge acknowledged the defendant's statements of remorse for his actions, but told the defendant that "remorse doesn't change what happened." The judge described the incident in which the defendant took Cequawn Brown's life as "a brutal and unnecessary act" and the situation as "a great tragedy" for both the victim's family and the family of the defendant.

In announcing today's sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor and praised the hard work of the Detectives Paul Regan and Douglas Carlson of the Metropolitan Police Department. He also acknowledged the efforts of Legal Assistant Doloris Young and Paralegal Lynette Briggs, as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn Haaland who initiated the investigation, and Tom Gillice, who indicted and prosecuted the case thereafter.