Antwon D. Green, 29, of Washington, D.C., is going away for 48 years after being sentenced for the 2014 execution-style murder of Breond Keys inside a Southeast DC barber shop. The sentence, handed down by Honorable Judith Bartnoff in Superior Court, marks the end of a years-long pursuit of justice for a killing so brazen it was caught on camera — but nearly got away with it due to disguise and silence.
On October 10, 2014, at approximately 11 a.m., Green first scoped out Kutt n’ Up Barber Shop in the 1400 block of Good Hope Road SE, pointing at Keys — a 38-year-old customer seated in the chair. Sixteen minutes later, he returned in a dark hooded sweatshirt and mask, stormed in wielding a pistol, and opened fire. Witnesses say Green fired multiple rounds at Keys as he sat defenseless, continued shooting after he fell, and then reached into Keys’ right front pants pocket with an ungloved hand — sealing his own fate.
Though no eyewitness could identify the gunman, investigators turned to forensic science. DNA recovered from inside Keys’ pants pocket matched Green’s skin cells. Surveillance footage confirmed the timeline and actions, and detectives connected the dots: a masked killer who thought he’d covered his face had left his biology behind in the victim’s pocket. The evidence was unshakable.
Green was convicted by a jury in December 2017 on charges of first-degree premeditated murder, attempted armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and related counts. The 48-year sentence is in addition to a separate six-year term for an armed robbery he committed just weeks after the murder — on October 28, 2014, when he robbed a liquor store owner restocking an ATM, fleeing with $12,000 in cash.
Green pled guilty in 2015 to that armed robbery charge, which occurred about a block from the murder scene. He’s been in custody since his July 2015 arrest in the Keys case. Prosecutors emphasized the cold calculation behind both crimes, painting Green as a repeat offender who showed zero remorse and operated with impunity in plain sight.
U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu and MPD Chief Peter Newsham praised the joint investigation by Metropolitan Police and the FBI. They also recognized the critical work of the District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner, forensic labs, and support staff from the U.S. Attorney’s Office — including DNA litigation expert Michael Ambrosino, victim advocate James Brennan, and lead prosecutors Richard DiZinno and Glenn.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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