Washington, D.C. – After deliberating for four hours, a Superior Court jury today found Byron K. Matthews, also known as Bryant K. Matthews, 22, of the 2700 block of Robinson Place, SE, Washington, D.C., guilty of felony murder and related charges in the death of Dushawn Alberto Swann on March 5, 2005, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor announced. Matthews will be sentenced by Judge Herbert B. Dixon, Jr., on September 15, 2008. He faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison.

According to the evidence presented over two weeks of trial, Matthews attended a tattoo party on the night of March 4, 2005, at an apartment in 2830 Robinson Place, SE, Washington, D.C. The tattoo artist tattooed his initials and birth date on his neck. Matthews got into a disagreement with the tattoo artist at the time of the party, and was overheard to say that, “It’s a jungle on Robinson Place.”

Several hours later, Matthews returned to the building armed with a bat. He and two of his friends sought to assault and rob the tattoo artist and his friend, Mr. Dushawn Swann, as the two men left the apartment building. The tattoo artist and his friend fought back. Matthews fought with the tattoo artist, while Mr. Swann was being assaulted by two of Matthews’ friends. During the fight, Mr. Swann was shoved out side of the building and shot, while the tattoo artist escaped. The tattoo artist testified about the attempted robbery, the assault, and the murder of his friend,
Mr. Swann. Matthews was also convicted of conspiracy and robbery. His two accomplices were acquitted.

In announcing the jury’s verdict, U.S. Attorney Taylor commended the outstanding work of MPD Detectives Edward Truesdale, Anthony Paci, Robert Arrington, Dwayne Partman, Lee Littlejohn, and George Blackwell, and officers Richard Steven Griffin, Grant Greenwalt, John Holzwart and Kevin Jeter. He also recognized the work of Paralegals Lynette Briggs, and Legal Assistant Doloris Young. Finally, he recognized the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney John Giovanelli who investigated, and indicted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Soroka and Alexandra F. Foster who tried the case.