Christmas Day Robbery: Burton Found Guilty

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The holiday spirit was shattered last Christmas for one D.C. couple, and now, justice is coming for the woman authorities say played a key role in the brazen daylight robbery. Derricka Burton, 20, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty by a Superior Court jury on June 20, 2024, of robbery and conspiracy related to the Christmas Day attack, according to U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith.

The incident unfolded around 2:38 p.m. on December 25, 2023, at Alethia Tanner Park, located at 227 Harry Thomas Way Northeast. The victims, a couple enjoying a rare moment of peace, were targeted by Burton and a crew of three accomplices. Surveillance footage paints a chilling picture: the group huddled, seemingly strategizing, before two members approached the couple with a firearm.

The co-conspirators didn’t waste time. They allegedly brandished the gun, demanding the victims’ possessions – a coveted Canada Goose brand jacket, a cellphone, and other personal items. After the theft, the pair returned to Burton and the remaining conspirators. A quick conference followed, and the group scattered, attempting to disappear into the city. But the attempt wasn’t clean.

As they fled, one of the co-conspirators dropped some of the stolen goods. Burton, caught on camera, didn’t hesitate – she scooped up the dropped property before rejoining the group. This act, prosecutors argued, cemented her involvement in the conspiracy and the subsequent cover-up. Police apprehended Burton on February 12, 2024, bringing her case to the Superior Court.

The trial presented the government’s evidence, including the damning video footage, and the jury clearly saw through Burton’s defense. The Honorable Robert Salerno has scheduled sentencing for August 23, 2024. The length of the sentence remains to be seen, but the conviction sends a clear message: violent crime, even on a holiday, will not be tolerated in the nation’s capital.

U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the diligent work of the Metropolitan Police Department detectives who investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Toogun and Katrenia Shelly successfully prosecuted the case, bringing a measure of closure to the victims and a warning to those who prey on innocent citizens. The investigation into Burton’s co-conspirators is ongoing, sources say.