In the late hours of a Wednesday in Washington, D.C., a domestic dispute tragically escalated, leading to the death of 35-year-old Erica Darnise Ward. On December 30, 2020, at approximately 11:38 p.m., police responded to a report of a shooting in the 4700 block of Benning Road, Southeast. Inside a residence, they found Ward suffering from a gunshot wound.
Emergency services transported her to a local hospital, but her life could not be saved.
The investigation into the female's death quickly identified a suspect. On the same day as the shooting, police arrested 54-year-old Samuel Mack of Northeast, D.C. The incident was determined to be domestic in nature, and Mack was subsequently charged with second-degree murder while armed. Court documents later revealed that the shooting occurred during an argument between Mack and Ward, who had a son together. Mack claimed the shooting was accidental, stating that the gun went off as he was gathering his belongings to leave the apartment.
Initially, Samuel Mack was charged with first-degree murder while armed. However, in March 2021, a DC Superior Court judge ruled that there was only enough evidence for the case to proceed on the lesser charge of second-degree murder while armed, citing a lack of evidence of premeditation. The judge noted that pointing the gun at Ward demonstrated a 'conscious disregard for extreme risk of death and or extreme bodily harm,' which is consistent with the lesser charge. Mack was released into home confinement following this ruling. The legal proceedings have been ongoing, with a trial date postponed to July 2025.
