Quateze Moore, a 46-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to the voluntary manslaughter while armed of Martinez Robinson in Northwest D.C. The plea was announced by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Moore also admitted to possessing cocaine with intent to distribute while armed. The plea was entered before Superior Court Associate Judge Jason Park, who ordered Moore held without bond until sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for March 27, 2026.
According to evidence presented by the government, the incident occurred on August 23, 2024, at 14th and Girard Street Park. Moore and Robinson encountered each other in the park; after a brief interaction, Robinson ran from the area with Moore pursuing him and firing shots as he fled. Robinson was struck three times—once in the right arm, once in the right thigh, and once in the torso—and died from his injuries. During the shooting, Moore’s dog was also killed by gunfire.
Moore acknowledged that he shot Robinson voluntarily and not in self-defense. Authorities found that Robinson had a Glock 23 .40 caliber firearm equipped with a laser sight and an extended magazine but had not fired it during the incident.
Moore was arrested on January 1, 2024, while sitting in a vehicle’s front passenger seat. Police recovered a firearm under his seat along with a plastic bag containing substances later identified as cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone through chemical testing.
Since his arrest earlier this year, Moore has remained in custody.
Interim Chief Jeffrey Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in announcing these developments. The case is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Dinan.
