District Man Sentenced To 15-Year Prison Term For 2013 Murder In Southeast Washington-Shooting Took Place In Front Of Elementary School-

     WASHINGTON – Anthony Williams, 18, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to a 15-year prison term for a murder that took place in November 2013 in Southeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

     Williams pled guilty in October 2014, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to a charge of second-degree murder while armed. The plea, which was contingent upon the Court’s approval, called for a 15-year prison term. The Honorable John Ramsey Johnson accepted the plea today and sentenced Williams accordingly. Following completion of his prison term, Williams will be placed on five years of supervised release.

     According to the government’s evidence, the victim, James Edward Booker, 24, was walking in the 3200 block of 6th Street SE, in front of Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, at about 9:55 p.m. on Nov. 5, 2013. He was approached from behind by Williams and two unidentified accomplices. Williams had a handgun in his right hand, and stood in front of Mr. Booker, blocking his path. He then pointed the weapon at Mr. Booker, who turned to run away. Williams began firing the gun, shooting Mr. Booker multiple times as he ran up 6th Street. Williams and the others then fled the scene.

     Mr. Booker was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead about two hours after the shooting. Williams has been in custody since his arrest a week after the murder.

     In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Kelly Blakeney; Litigation Technology Specialists William Henderson and Paul Howell; Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Worm, who investigated the case. Finally, he thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Kendra Briggs, who investigated and prosecuted the matter.