Tyrell Morris, Armed Robbery, Washington District of Columbia 2021

A chilling wave of armed robberies struck Northeast Washington this summer, but one of its perpetrators has finally faced justice. Tyrell Morris, 24, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison for two brazen armed robberies he committed over a six-week period in July and August 2021, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Morris pleaded guilty in September 2021, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to two counts of armed robbery and related firearms offenses. He was sentenced by the Honorable J. Michael Ryan to 18 years in prison; however, three years of that time was suspended on the condition that Morris successfully complete five years of supervised probation.

The first robbery took place on July 22, 2021, at approximately 7:35 a.m., when Morris and an accomplice approached a man in the mouth of an alley behind the 1700 block of Gales Street NE, demanding everything that he had. The man, who had been walking, had a bag containing his phone and wallet. Morris brandished a firearm, which he then used to hit the victim across his face and head. When the victim turned to run away, Morris fired at him several times, hitting the victim once in the leg. Morris and the accomplice then fled with the bag.

The second robbery took place on August 29, 2021, at approximately 10:10 a.m. The victim was using an ATM located inside a small building in the 1100 block of H Street NE, in the process of withdrawing money. As he was doing so, Morris and an accomplice entered the building. Morris aimed a firearm at the victim and demanded money. He took approximately $70 from the man, as well as the victim’s ATM card, which Morris used to withdraw approximately $1,000. Morris and the accomplice then left.

Morris was arrested on September 7, 2021, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Department into a series of armed robberies. He has been in custody ever since.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Alesha Matthews Yette, Victim/Witness Program Specialist Karina Hernandez, Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Allen, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Wang, who investigated and prosecuted the case.

Morris pleaded guilty to two counts of armed robbery and related firearms offenses. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison, with three years suspended on the condition that he completes five years of supervised probation.

The city where the crimes occurred is Washington, D.C., and the state is Washington D.C. The exact dates of the crimes are July 22, 2021, and August 29, 2021. Morris was arrested on September 7, 2021. The sentence handed down is 15 years in prison.

Related Federal Cases