Chinatown Stabbing: Hat Fight Leads to 66-Month Sentence for Warsame

WASHINGTON – A heated disagreement over a hat turned deadly as Tanade Warsame, 32, from Washington, D.C., was sentenced to a total of 66 months in prison for his role in a Chinatown stabbing.

The grim incident unfolded on May 4, 2024, when Warsame and another individual agreed to settle their beef with a fist fight. However, the confrontation took a dark turn as Warsame produced a knife during the altercation, resulting in multiple stab wounds for the victim. The jury found Warsame guilty of one count of assault with significant bodily injury while armed, an offense committed while on release for another matter.

In September 2024, after a jury trial in Superior Court, Warsame was also sentenced to an additional 12 months for the offense while on release and 180 days for contempt. The sentence was handed down by Superior Court Judge Judith Pipe, who also ordered Warsame to serve five years of supervised release following his prison term.

According to evidence presented by the government, Warsame had been previously ordered to stay away from Chinatown due to a previous case. Despite this, he chose to engage in the violent confrontation that led to the stabbing. The investigation was conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with Assistant United States Attorneys Jasmine Dohemann and Katelyn Benton handling the prosecution.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the MPD announced the sentence, emphasizing the severity of the crime and its impact on the community. The case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent behavior in public spaces.