WASHINGTON – Anthony Allen, 25, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a botched robbery attempt that led to the death of a teenager in Southeast Washington, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Robert J. Contee III, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Allen pleaded guilty in December 2018, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, to charges of second-degree murder while armed and attempted robbery while armed. He was sentenced yesterday by the Honorable Craig Iscoe.
Allen pleaded guilty for his role in committing a botched robbery attempt on Jan. 14, 2018, in the 1700 Block of Minnesota Avenue SE. According to the government’s evidence, Allen was driving a stolen Mercedes along with two other individuals, and the group, armed with a handgun, were driving around searching for victims to rob.
Shortly before 7 p.m., Allen and his accomplices observed 14-year-old Steven Slaughter, who was leaving a 7-Eleven on Good Hope Road SE, accompanied by two of his teenage friends. Allen followed the teenagers to Minnesota Avenue and parked the car facing the victims. One of his accomplices exited the car and brandished the handgun towards Mr. Slaughter while Allen stayed in the car and waited. The accomplice fired multiple shots from the handgun, striking Mr. Slaughter three times, as the other two teenagers ran away. The accomplice returned to the Mercedes, and Allen drove them away from the crime scene. Mr. Slaughter was taken to a hospital, where he died from his wounds.
Allen was arrested on March 5, 2018. He has been in custody since his arrest.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Contee commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Saunders; Supervisory Victim/Witness Services Coordinator Katina Adams-Washington; Paralegal Specialist Meridith McGarrity; Victim/Witness Advocate Jennifer Clark, and Investigative Analyst Zachary McMenamin.
Finally, they commended the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Gilead Light, who prosecuted the case.