In the late afternoon of a winter day in Washington, D.C., a dispute over property theft escalated into a fatal encounter for a young man. On Wednesday, February 10, 2016, Mauricio Dannell Walker, a 23-year-old male, was shot and killed in the 1900 block of 18th Street, SE. The events leading to his death began around 4:00 p.m. near the 2100 block of R Street SE, where Walker and another individual were seen checking for unlocked car doors.
A local resident, Alphonso Roberts, discovered
the second person taking items from his Volvo. After Roberts confronted them, Walker and his companion walked away. A short time later, as Walker and the other person were crossing a grassy area adjacent to the Anacostia Library in the 1800 block of Good Hope Road SE, Roberts drove up in his Volvo. He exited the vehicle, brandished a handgun, and began firing at the two individuals.
As Walker attempted to flee back across the lot, he was struck by gunfire in his back and head. He collapsed from his injuries and was later pronounced dead. The Metropolitan Police Department launched a homicide investigation into the shooting.
The investigation led to the identification of Alphonso Roberts as the suspected shooter. Roberts, who was 32 years old at the time, was subsequently arrested. In July 2016, he pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder while armed in connection with Mauricio Walker's death. As part of a plea agreement that also included a federal firearms offense, Roberts was expected to serve a 20-year prison sentence for the murder.
