Darrell Hinkle, a 36-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed in connection with the fatal shooting of Dajuan Blakney in April 2023. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Hinkle entered his plea on September 4, 2025. The plea agreement, pending court approval at sentencing, proposes a prison term between 17 and 21 years followed by supervised release. Superior Court Judge Jason Park accepted the factual basis for the plea and set sentencing for January 16, 2026.
Court documents state that on April 21, 2023, at approximately 12:01 a.m., Hinkle parked outside an apartment complex at 1511 19th Street SE. He approached Blakney, who was sitting on the steps near the entrance. Once within close range, Hinkle shot Blakney with an assault-style rifle before fleeing in his vehicle.
Authorities arrested Hinkle in October of that year. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in making the announcement. The case was investigated by personnel from the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Carson.
