Kirk Spencer, a resident of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for the shooting death of Marcus Covington. The sentencing, announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department, took place on April 9, 2025.
Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein determined the sentence, placing it within the upper middle range of the guideline period, and included an additional five years of supervised release following the prison term. Spencer admitted guilt on October 11, 2024, to the charge of second-degree murder while armed with a firearm.
The incident dates back to February 23, 2021, at about 1:35 p.m., when Spencer and Covington met on the Anacostia Metro platform, located on the 1100 block of Howard Road, Southeast, Washington, DC. Surveillance footage recorded Spencer descending an escalator and greeting Covington. Their interaction, appearing initially friendly with a half-hug, ended tragically. As Covington turned away, Spencer withdrew a handgun and fired twice at his head. After Covington fell, Spencer fired again and then left the scene. Covington was taken to Medstar Washington Hospital Center but succumbed to his injuries by the following morning.
U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith praised the efforts of the Metropolitan Police Department investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s Office team, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Ryan Sellinger, in handling the case.
