Guilty Plea in the Vicious 2023 Stabbing of a Man in Northeast

            WASHINGTON –Stephen Herring, 26, of Southeast Washington, D.C. pleaded guilty to viciously stabbing and killing 32-year-old Marcus Thurman in August 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Herring pleaded guilty on November 7, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of second-degree murder while armed. Sentencing is scheduled for January 30, 2026, before the Honorable Dayna Dayson.

            According to the government’s evidence, at approximately at 5:10 am, on August 22, 2023, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) received a call for a stabbing in front of 140 M Street, NE. Upon their arrival, the victim, who was later identified as Marcus Thurman, was found unconscious and unresponsive, suffering from an apparent stab wound to the upper chest. The first responding officer and later DC FEMS conducted life saving measures as well as CPR. The victim was transported to Washington Hospital Center (WHC) where on September 4, 2023, he died from his injuries.

            Based on surveillance video evidence which captured the defendant stabbing the victim coupled with multiple eyewitness interviews on the scene, Stephen Herring was identified as a suspect. Later in the day on August 22, 2023, the defendant was located and initially arrested for assault with intent to kill while armed. The charges were later upgraded to second degree murder while armed after the victim’s death on September 4, 2023.

            Meanwhile, the homicide investigation continued and according to multiple witnesses and surveillance video footages, on the day of the incident Herring was involved in an altercation with a female eyewitness that led to the defendant physically assaulting the witness. Upon seeing this, Marcus Thurman tried to intervene and protect the female victim. The female victim was also with her infant son who was in a baby stroller nearby. The defendant—obviously unhappy and enraged by Mr. Thurman’s attempt to protect the young woman—left the area and returned to the scene shortly thereafter armed with a knife. The surveillance footage reveals that the defendant directly sought Mr. Thurman and in one swift and vicious move, stabbed the victim in the heart. While the victim lay bleeding and the female victim and strangers rendered help, the defendant fled the scene. 

            After a thorough investigation, on May 5, 2024, a D.C. Superior Court Grand Jury returned an indictment against the Stephen Herring for first degree premeditated murder and carrying a dangerous weapon. The defendant was arraigned on these charges on June 10, 2024.

            The defendant was apprehended on August 22, 2023 and has been in custody ever since.

            Joining in the announcement was Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department.

            This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

            This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke.

Editor's Note:
This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.