A man was pistol-whipped and stomped in the back yard of a Caribbean market in Northwest Washington in 2016, left bleeding with lacerations to his head—all over talk he didn’t even know he’d made. Jahmar Thaxter, 26, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for the brutal assault, which unfolded behind Move and Groove, a small market on Georgia Avenue NW.
Thaxter was convicted by a jury in September 2017 on multiple counts, including assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with significant bodily injury while armed, conspiracy, and firearms offenses. The trial, held in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, ended in a guilty verdict after evidence placed Thaxter at the scene with a loaded gun. Judge Kimberley S. Knowles handed down the 10-year sentence and added three years of supervised release post-incarceration.
According to prosecutors, on the night of October 23, 2016, Thaxter and an unidentified accomplice approached the victim, who had no prior relationship with Thaxter but knew the second man. That man accused the victim of spreading rumors about his involvement in a prior shooting. Within moments, both men turned violent—guns drawn, fists flying. Thaxter pistol-whipped the victim repeatedly, then kicked him as his accomplice rifled through his wallet before tossing it aside.
One critical piece of evidence sealed Thaxter’s fate: his eyeglasses, knocked off during the beating, were found at the scene. DNA analysis conducted by the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences confirmed Thaxter as the major contributor. The match, combined with witness testimony and investigative work by MPD detectives, built an airtight case.
Metropolitan Police Department detectives from the Fourth Police District arrested Thaxter on January 16, 2017. He has remained behind bars ever since. A warrant is still active for the second attacker, who remains at large. Authorities have not released his name, but say he played a direct role in the robbery and assault.
U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu praised the investigation, specifically highlighting the work of MPD detectives, forensic analysts, and prosecutors from her office. She named Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren N. Bressack and Ethan Carroll as lead prosecutors, and acknowledged support staff including victim advocates, forensic specialists, and litigation technicians who helped secure the conviction. “This sentence delivers justice for a vicious, unprovoked attack,” Liu said in a statement.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington DC
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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