Willard Carlos Shelton, a 38-year-old male, tragically lost his life on August 31, 2014, in a violent encounter in Washington, D.C. In the early morning hours, at approximately 7:00 AM, Shelton drove to the 2500 block of Pomeroy Road, SE, with the intention of purchasing narcotics. It was there that he was approached by two individuals, later identified as James Young and Tyrone Michael Hight.
Brandishing firearms, Young and Hight attempted to rob Shelton.
During the course of the robbery, they pistol-whipped him. As Shelton tried to escape his assailants, they fired multiple shots in his direction. One of these bullets struck him in the abdomen, causing him to collapse to the ground. Following the shooting, Young proceeded to take Shelton's personal belongings, which included his wallet and keys. Emergency services responded to reports of a shooting and found Shelton with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
In the days following the homicide, the Metropolitan Police Department swiftly identified and apprehended two suspects. On September 4, 2014, James Young, 21, and Tyrone Height, 22, were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting. Both men were subsequently charged with a string of serious offenses, including first-degree felony murder while armed, second-degree murder while armed, armed robbery, and related weapons offenses. In the course of the investigation, it was discovered that both suspects had attempted to obstruct justice. Young made threatening statements to a government witness, and Hight persuaded an individual to provide false statements to law enforcement. In June of 2018, James Young was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in the murder.
