Andre Clark, a 34-year-old resident of the District, has entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder while armed. This plea is related to the fatal shooting of Leonard Taylor Jr. in October 2024. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr., alongside Chief Pamela Smith from the Metropolitan Police Department.
The terms of Clark's guilty plea include a prison sentence ranging from 15 to 20 years, followed by supervised release, pending court approval at sentencing. Superior Court Judge Todd E. Edelman has accepted the factual basis for this plea and set the sentencing date for July 11, 2025.
Details from the plea hearing reveal that on October 20, 2024, Clark exited a building on the 1500 block of 19th Street SE and approached Taylor, who was seated in his car. Clark then pointed a firearm at Taylor through the driver's side window and fired as Taylor attempted to drive away, resulting in Taylor's death.
Clark was apprehended in Baltimore, Maryland on December 19, 2024, and has remained in custody since his arrest.
The investigation into this case was conducted by members of the Metropolitan Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bromwich is leading the prosecution.
