Matthew M. Graves U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia
Koran Brown, a 32-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for the murder of Cynthia Barringer. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Brown admitted guilt to one count of second-degree murder while armed in November 2024 at the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The prosecution's evidence revealed that an argument between Brown and Ms. Barringer took place around 3:45 pm on the day she was killed. During this altercation, Brown shot Ms. Barringer once in the head with a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Following the shooting, he set fire to the bedroom where it occurred and fled from the scene. Surveillance footage captured Brown leaving the building and later arriving at a family member's home, where he discarded his bloody t-shirt and left behind the murder weapon. A search warrant led to the recovery of these items, with DNA tests linking them to both Brown and Ms. Barringer.
U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith expressed their appreciation for those involved in investigating this case from MPD as well as personnel from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Lead Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity and Victim/Witness Advocate Latrice Washington Williams. They also acknowledged former Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Rickard along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dana Joseph and Andrea Antonelli for their roles in investigating and prosecuting this case.
