Rakeem Willis, 1st-Degree Murder, Maryland 2019

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Rakeem Willis, 120 Years for 1st-Degree Murder, Washington DC, 2019

A triple homicide in Southeast Washington has left one man behind bars for 120 years. Rakeem Willis, 31, was sentenced to a total of 120 years in prison for charges stemming from the fatal shooting of three men.

The victims, Sean Shuler, 26, Javon Abney, 26, and Tyrik Hagood, 24, were lured to a quiet, dead-end street in the 1500 block of Fort Davis Place SE, where they were shot numerous times by gunmen on January 26, 2019. The three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.

A stolen Lexus sedan used in the murders was later found burning just across the Maryland state line off of I-295. Willis was arrested on June 11, 2019, after a vehicle pursuit and has been in custody since that time.

U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves commended the work of those who investigated the case, including the Metropolitan Police Department, the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, and the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team. He also expressed appreciation for the assistance provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Chrisellen Kolb, Chief of the Appellate Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Spence and Ariel Dean.

The jury returned its verdict on November 16, 2022, following a trial in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Willis was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder while armed and fleeing law enforcement.

Superior Court Judge J. Michael Ryan imposed the 120-year sentence on Willis, bringing closure to the families of the victims. The case is a grim reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence in our community.

The Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have worked tirelessly to bring justice to the victims and their families. This sentence serves as a reminder that those who commit such heinous crimes will face the full force of the law.