Deandre Pettus Charged

Deandre Pettus, 34, of the District of Columbia, has been charged with first-degree murder in the alleged drowning of his son, Deandre Pettus, Jr.

According to court documents, on October 6, 2024, at 9:44 a.m., MPD officers responded to the 4500 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW, for a report of an unconscious child inside an apartment.

U.S. Secret Service officers had been the first to arrive on the scene and started CPR on the 5-year-old boy. DC Fire and EMS arrived soon after and took over CPR. After all lifesaving efforts failed the child was pronounced dead.

Officers at the scene arrested Pettus, who was charged with first degree cruelty to children. The boy was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where the death was ruled undetermined.

On July 11, 2025, Pettus was arraigned in DC Superior Court on charges of First Degree-Felony Murder and cruelty to children before Judge Todd Edelman. A jury trial is scheduled for March 1, 2027.

This case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emma McArthur. The incident occurred in 2024, with the case number 2024 CF1 010074.

The charges against Deandre Pettus are severe, and if convicted, he could face significant prison time. The community is left to wonder how such a tragic event could occur, and the investigation is ongoing.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department announced the charges against Pettus. The case has drawn attention to the importance of protecting children from abuse and neglect.

The trial, scheduled for March 1, 2027, will be a significant moment in the case, as the prosecution will present its evidence against Deandre Pettus. The outcome will depend on the evidence presented and the jury’s decision.