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Defendant Sentenced to 39 ½ Years for 2011 Slaying in Northeast Washington
A Washington D.C. man was sentenced to 39 ½ years in prison for a 2011 slaying in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.
Brandon Andrews, 31, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia of second-degree murder in the slaying of his ex-girlfriend’s brother, Leonard Bigelow, 43.
Andrews was also found guilty of assault with a deadly weapon for shooting at Mr. Bigelow’s father, threats to injure for threatening his ex-girlfriend, and related weapons offenses.
According to the government’s evidence, Andrews and Mr. Bigelow’s sister dated for approximately 10 months before she ended the relationship after Andrews threatened her.
Andrews repeatedly tried to call and send text messages to his ex-girlfriend, but she did not respond. Many of the defendant’s text messages included profanity, threats, and demands that she answer him.
On Aug. 23, 2011, Mr. Bigelow was with his sister at their home when Andrews came by. Andrews and Mr. Bigelow argued when Mr. Bigelow informed Andrews that he was unwelcome and that his sister did not want to talk to him.
Andrews arrived at the Bigelow home on the evening of Aug. 26, 2011, with a loaded semi-automatic pistol in his pocket. He emerged from an alley and into the 1300 block of Emerald Street NE, and walked toward the house. Mr. Bigelow went onto the front porch with his father, while his sister called 911.
Andrews stopped in front of the house and, without a word, shot at Mr. Bigelow and his father twice. He struck Mr. Bigelow with a bullet in the chest. Andrews then walked back the way he came. Mr. Bigelow collapsed and died that night from the gunshot wound.
Andrews was arrested on Aug. 27, 2011, and the police found the loaded .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol used to kill Mr. Bigelow in his pocket.
At trial, Andrews claimed self-defense and alleged that at the time of the shooting Mr. Bigelow charged at him with some type of weapon in his hand. The government strongly disputed Andrews’ claim.
Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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