Stephen Herring, a 26-year-old resident of Southeast Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to the stabbing death of Marcus Thurman in August 2023. The plea was entered on November 7, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro announced the development.
Herring admitted guilt to one count of second-degree murder while armed. Sentencing is set for January 30, 2026, before Judge Dayna Dayson.
According to evidence presented by prosecutors, police responded at approximately 5:10 a.m. on August 22, 2023, to a report of a stabbing outside 140 M Street NE. Officers found Marcus Thurman unconscious and suffering from a stab wound to his upper chest. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures and CPR before transporting him to Washington Hospital Center. Thurman died from his injuries on September 4, 2023.
Surveillance footage showed Herring stabbing Thurman. Multiple eyewitnesses at the scene also identified Herring as the suspect. He was arrested later that day for assault with intent to kill while armed; charges were upgraded after Thurman's death.
Further investigation revealed that earlier on the day of the incident, Herring had been involved in an altercation with a woman who was accompanied by her infant son in a stroller. When Thurman intervened to protect her during this dispute, Herring left but soon returned with a knife and stabbed Thurman in the heart before fleeing.
A grand jury indicted Herring for first-degree premeditated murder and carrying a dangerous weapon on May 5, 2024; he was arraigned on June 10, 2024. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing these developments. The case was investigated by MPD and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke.
The release notes that although the incident occurred as described above, publication was delayed due to a government shutdown and only made available following resumption of normal operations.
