Jennings Pleads Guilty to Murder

A brutal home invasion in Northwest Washington has led to a guilty plea from the perpetrator. Joseph Jennings, Jr., 35, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to a charge of second-degree murder while armed for killing a man this year after breaking into his condominium.

According to the government’s evidence, Jennings spent the early morning of Jan. 22, 2016 getting high at his residence in Southeast Washington. Later that morning, Jennings joined with two other men in a plan to break into a condominium in the 400 block of M Street NW and steal marijuana.

The events that unfolded were nothing short of chaotic. At about 9:48 a.m., Jennings used an object to forcibly pry open the locked front door to the building. One of his accomplices waited nearby, while Jennings and the other man continued inside. As they attempted to gain entry to the unit through a sliding glass balcony door, the victim, Matthew Shevlin, fled out of the front door and began screaming for help.

Jennings chased Mr. Shevlin, and a struggle ensued before Mr. Shevlin got away. The other man, meanwhile, took a mason jar of marijuana from the apartment. Mr. Shevlin threw a flower pot at the man’s head and got into a second struggle with Jennings. During this struggle, Jennings shot Mr. Shevlin, 37, who later died of multiple gunshot wounds.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate James Brennan and Supervisory Paralegal Specialist Sharon Newman. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney David Misler, who is investigating and prosecuting the matter.

Jennings is to be sentenced Dec. 16, 2016, by the Honorable Michael Ryan. The guilty plea is a significant step towards justice for the victim and his family. The case serves as a reminder of the dangers of home invasions and the devastating consequences that can result from such violent crimes.

The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. As the sentencing approaches, the community will be watching to see that justice is served. The guilty plea of Joseph Jennings, Jr. is a testament to the tireless efforts of law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to combat violent crime in Washington, D.C.

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