Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Idrissa Fall, a 37-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been convicted of first-degree murder while armed, along with related charges. The conviction follows the shooting death of his ex-girlfriend, Dara Northern, on July 18, 2021. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Pamela A. Smith, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department.
The jury delivered its unanimous decision on January 22, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Fall was found guilty of first-degree premeditated murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Sentencing is scheduled for March 19, 2025, before Judge Rainey Brandt.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed that just before 1:30 a.m. on July 18, 2021, Northern left her home to meet her best friend for an outing. Fall followed her out and attempted to stop her after she had ended their relationship and asked him to leave her residence. As Northern entered her friend's car, Fall reached for his waistband and shot her in the head as she sat beside her friend. Northern was declared brain dead later that day due to the injuries sustained from the gunshot wound.
Fall was apprehended on August 2, 2021, and has remained in custody since his arrest.
U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith praised the efforts of those involved in investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department and acknowledged support from the U.S. Marshals Service. They also recognized contributions from members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office including Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin; Victim/Witness Advocates Jennifer Allen and Latrice Washington-Williams; Paralegal Specialists Alyssa Schroeder and Sharon Newman; and Litigation Technology Specialist Sigourney Jackson.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kristian L. Hinson and Yasmin Emrani were commended for prosecuting the case successfully.
