WASHINGTON - MacArthur Venable, 34 of Washington, D.C. pled guilty to one count second degree murder while armed for killing one man by shooting at him multiple times in Northeast Washington. The incident occurred on Oct. 31, 2018 when the defendant got into an argument with the decedent at the Unit block of Massachusetts Avenue, NE near the intersection of North Capitol Street, NW, U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea announced.
Venable pled guilty on February 6, 2020, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea calls for a sentence of between fifteen to eighteen years in prison for killing the decedent. He will be sentenced on July 21, 2020, by the Honorable Anita Josey-Herring.
The incident occurred on Oct. 31, 2018 at approximately 9:52 p.m. The defendant was walking down Massachusetts Avenue with another individual when he came upon the decedent, Mr. James Ferrell. The defendant then began to speak to Mr. Ferrell and an argument ensued. The argument between Mr. Ferrell and the defendant escalated and the defendant then walked up to the individual who he was walking with, reached into his waistband, and pulled out a firearm. The defendant then pointed the firearm at Mr. Ferrell and discharged the firearm four times. Mr. Ferrell was struck in his chest twice and subsequently ran across the street and collapsed in front of the Postal Museum. A witness called 911 and police and paramedics arrived at the scene. The decedent was transported to the Medstar Unit of the Washington Hospital Center. All life saving measures were unsuccessful and Mr. Ferrell was pronounced dead a short time later.
In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Shea commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Criminal Investigations Division Homicide Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department and also the U.S. Capitol Police. He acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Lashone Samuels; Victim Witness Specialist Marcia Rinker and Investigative analyst Zachary McMenamin.
Finally, U.S. Attorney Shea commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shehzad Akhtar who investigated and prosecuted the matter.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
