Morris Stokes, a 70-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been arraigned on charges of first-degree murder while armed. The charges relate to the death of Maurice Rowe on August 6, 2024. This development was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
The grand jury indicted Stokes on May 14, 2025, for this charge.
According to evidence presented by the government, the incident occurred at approximately 4:00 a.m. when Stokes allegedly approached Rowe with a metal pole and struck him multiple times after knocking him down. Rowe was hospitalized with severe injuries including six lacerations to his head, fractures in both legs and face, and a brain bleed. He succumbed to these injuries on October 14, 2024. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Rowe's death resulted from complications due to blunt force injuries and classified it as a homicide.
During an MPD search warrant execution at Stokes' apartment, officers recovered the alleged murder weapon and clothing worn during the assault.
The case is under investigation by MPD and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rashmika Nedungadi.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
