District Man Indicted on First-Degree Murder for 2024 Slaying

            WASHINGTON – Morris Stokes, 70, of Washington, D.C., was arraigned today on the charge of first-degree murder while armed (premeditated), stemming from the August 6, 2024, slaying of Maurice Rowe, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). 

           Stokes was indicted by the grand jury on the sole charge of first-degree murder on May 14, 2025. 

           According to the government’s evidence, at around 4:00 a.m., on August 6, 2024, Stokes approached Mr. Rowe while armed with a metal pole and knocked him to the ground. The defendant continued to hit Mr. Rowe multiple times in the head and body. Mr. Rowe was rushed to the hospital, where medical staff concluded that he sustained six large lacerations to his head, fractures in both legs, a facial fracture and a brain bleed. Mr. Rowe passed away as a result of his injuries on October 14, 2024. The Office the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that Mr. Rowe’s death was a homicide, caused by complications from blunt force injuries. The murder weapon and the clothing worn by the defendant during the assault were recovered from the defendant’s apartment by MPD Officers during a search warrant. 

           This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi.

           An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.