District Man is Sentenced to 26 1/2 Years in Prison for the Murder of His Girlfriend

            WASHINGTON – Ronald Randolph, 42, of Washington, D.C. was sentenced today by Judge Todd Edelman to 26 ½ years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Shameka Jones, U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Shea announced.  Randolph previously pled guilty to one count of second degree murder while armed with a sentencing range of 20 to 28 years in prison. 

            The incident occurred on July 22, 2017, less than one month after Randolph’s release from prison for another violent crime, around 8:30 a.m.  Randolph and Ms. Jones had been in a romantic relationship for years, however, in the days leading up to the murder, Ms. Jones had expressed a desire to end the relationship.  That morning, angry about the possibility that the relationship might end, Randolph shot Ms. Jones in the face.  He then waited twenty minutes before calling 911 and confessing to the crime.

            During the sentencing hearing, numerous statements were read that had been prepared by family members and friends describing the significant role Ms. Jones played in their lives as a sister, daughter, friend and mother.  In imposing his sentence, Judge Edelman indicated that he considered Randolph’s significant prior criminal history, to include multiple convictions for crimes of violence and a prior conviction for second degree murder, and found there were few if any mitigating factors to consider. 

            In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Shea commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department.  He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Lead Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman, Paralegal Specialists Stephanie Gilbert and Stephanie Siegerist, Victim Witness Specialist Jennifer Allen, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin.  Finally, U.S. Attorney Shea commended the work of former Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Bruckmann who investigated and indicted the case and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach and Jack Korba who prosecuted the matter.