FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885
FEBRUARY 28, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KENNETH JAMAL LIGHTY SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR THE
ABDUCTION AND MURDER OF POLICE OFFICER’S SON
GREENBELT, Maryland - United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein announces that today U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte sentenced Kenneth Jamal Lighty, age 23, of Hillcrest Heights, Maryland, to death for the January 3, 2002 kidnapping and murder of 19 year old Eric Larry Hayes, II, the son of a District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department officer. Lighty also received a life sentence plus 55 years on related conspiracy and gun charges and he was ordered to pay restitution to the Hayes’ family while in prison for their son’s funeral costs. Judge Messitte told the courtroom that the violence involved in cases such as this are always tragic and that the real loss in this case was the life of a young man who would never get to fulfill his own potential.
On November 15, 2005 a federal jury recommended the death penalty after previously convicting Lighty and co-defendant James Everett Flood III, age 28, of Washington, D.C. of kidnapping and murder. Flood was sentenced to life in prison on January 11, 2006. A third defendant, Lorenzo Anthony Wilson, age 22, of Hillcrest Heights, Maryland was convicted of conspiracy to kidnap and sentenced to life in prison on January 30, 2006.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein said, “The jury's recommendation that Lighty pay the ultimate penalty for his vicious murder of Eric Hayes reflects the judgment of a community that has simply had enough of senseless gun violence."
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office Kevin L. Perkins stated, "This case illustrates the determination of law enforcement on every level to exact a punishment which befits the crime. We owe a debt of gratitude to the tireless efforts of the investigators, prosecutors, and the public who had a role in the resolution of this case."
According to evidence established at trial, the three defendants abducted Mr. Hayes from the 3200 block of 8th Street, S.E., Washington, D.C., by forcing Mr. Hayes at gunpoint into their car. The defendants then transported Mr. Hayes to Prince George’s County, Maryland. During the time of his abduction, Hayes was pistol whipped and shot several times in the face, head and limbs. His body was found off a residential street in Temple Hills, Maryland. Three weeks later, the evidence at trial showed that Lighty and Wilson participated in a January30, 2002 drive by shooting which resulted in the death of Antoine Newbill, age 22, and injured two other persons. Lighty was arrested with the gun in the District of Columbia on January 31, 2002. He was on probation for a drug offense and on bond pending robbery charges in Prince George’s County, Maryland at the time of his involvement in these crimes.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force and the Prince George’s County Police Department for their investigative work, and thanked the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia for their assistance. Mr. Rosenstein also commended Assistant U.S. Attorneys Deborah A. Johnston and Sandra Wilkinson, who are prosecuting the case.
This page last modified—March 1, 2006