A judge found on March 17 that there is probable cause to charge Niwatilagu Anthony Long, 45, of Washington, D.C., with second-degree murder while armed for the shooting death of Melvin Saunders, 44, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
The case centers on a December 19, 2025 incident in Northeast D.C., where Saunders was killed at close range. The decision to move forward with charges highlights ongoing concerns about violent crime and public safety in the community.
Long was arrested at the D.C. Superior Court following a preliminary hearing related to a separate assault with a deadly weapon case involving another victim, Donald Cook, on January 3, 2026. A status hearing for Long is scheduled for October 9, 2026.
According to the affidavit supporting Long’s arrest, several people were present in an apartment at North Capitol Commons when Long allegedly claimed gang affiliation and accused Saunders of being part of a rival group before shooting him "execution-style" in the left temple. Authorities say Long fled the scene on foot and changed his appearance by discarding clothing to avoid detection.
During the preliminary hearing, Judge Rainey Brandt ordered that Long remain held without bond and said there were no conditions that could ensure community safety if he were released. Judge Brandt described the killing as a “close-range assassination” where Saunders was “shot point-blank” in the head.
The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marybeth Manfreda and Rashmika Nedungadi. Prosecutors emphasized that all charges are allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
