Amard Jefferson, a 26-year-old resident of Ft. Washington, Maryland, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the murder of 20-year-old Kendall Brown. The sentence, which was delivered by Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, also includes three years of supervised release. Jefferson was found guilty in December 2024 of second-degree murder, possession of a firearm during a crime, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a license, and obstruction of justice.
The incident occurred on August 7, 2021, in the 3000 block of Nelson Place, Southeast. Ms. Brown and two others went to the apartment of Jefferson's girlfriend to retrieve personal items. During a verbal argument, Jefferson escalated the situation by introducing a firearm and subsequently shot Ms. Brown without justification. Afterward, he fled the scene, leaving the weapon behind and attempting to avoid accountability by persuading his girlfriend to take the blame.
U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department, announced the sentencing. They praised the efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department's team and the U.S. Attorney's Office, particularly Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Han and the paralegal and support staff involved in the case. They also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Colleen Kukowski, who investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Clark and Stephanie Dinan, who prosecuted.
The case highlights the challenges of preventing obstruction of justice when defendants attempt to manipulate others to avoid legal consequences.
