Washington, D.C. – A 21-year-old man, Daniel Richard Proctor, Jr., pleaded guilty this afternoon in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to Second Degree Murder while armed for 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 today 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 entered his guilty plea before the Honorable Geoffrey M. Alprin. Proctor faces up to 40 years of imprisonment at sentencing, currently scheduled for December 3, 2008. Under the voluntary sentencing guidelines, the defendant faces a likely sentencing range of 12 to 24 years in prison.

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.

In announcing today’s guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Taylor and praised the hard work of the Detective 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.