In the early moments of a Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C., a dispute between friends culminated in a fatal shooting that ended the life of 38-year-old Darnell Bernard Shaw Jr. The incident occurred on November 9, 2022, at approximately 12:05 a.m. in the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE, where officers found Shaw suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the death of the man, also known as DJ, led to the arrest of his friend, 50-year-old Andre White. The conflict between the two men reportedly began over a dispute involving drugs and name-calling. This altercation escalated, with White allegedly threatening to kill Shaw days before the shooting. On the night of the incident, White shot Shaw four times in the back. Shaw's family described him as a loyal man who, despite not having much, was always willing to give what he could to others. His mother recalled a six-year friendship between her son and White, stating that White would sometimes walk her to the bus stop when she left for work at 4 a.m.
Andre White was initially charged with premeditated first-degree murder. However, in a plea deal that distressed Shaw's family, he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter. During the sentencing hearing, Shaw's family expressed their profound grief and dissatisfaction with the plea agreement, feeling it did not provide justice for their loss. Shaw's mother directly addressed White, accusing him of strategically planning the killing. White's defense attorney stated that he wished he could go back in time and apologized to Shaw's loved ones. On October 27, 2023, a D.C. Superior Court judge sentenced Andre White to 16 years in prison for his involvement in the death of his friend.
