WASHINGTON, D.C. — Duron Hudson, 23, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 102 months in prison for involuntary manslaughter while armed, in connection with the killing of a homeless man in Northwest D.C. in November 2019. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Hudson pleaded guilty on December 20, 2023, to involuntary manslaughter while armed, along with other felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a series of incidents primarily occurring over a six-week period in 2019. These incidents included two other events that resulted in serious injuries to the victims. In addition to the prison term, Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt ordered Hudson to serve five years of supervised release.
According to the government’s case, on November 29, 2019, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Hudson and his girlfriend were seen arguing near the intersection of 13th and U Street NW. Shortly thereafter, Hudson walked across the street towards the Lincoln Theater and approached the victim, Nahzil Zaid Abdul Rahim, a homeless man. After a brief conversation, Mr. Rahim attempted to distance himself from Hudson by walking away. Hudson pursued the victim, picked up rocks or a brick-like material, and threw it at Mr. Rahim. Although the first projectile missed, the second struck Mr. Rahim, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. While Mr. Rahim lay disoriented and barely conscious in the street, he was struck by a car and died from multiple blunt force injuries. The driver of the vehicle left the scene.
Later that day, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Hudson robbed a woman of her cell phone in the 1500 block of U Street NW. He approached the victim, forcibly took her cell phone, and fled the scene. Hudson was also involved in incidents on December 9, 2019, and January 11, 2020, during which he seriously injured the victims while attempting to take their property.
Hudson was initially arrested and detained on January 16, 2020, in connection with the cell phone robbery on December 9, 2019, and an attempted motorbike theft on June 26, 2019. He was 18 years old when he committed the first crime. Hudson was re-arrested on August 23, 2023, and charged with involuntary manslaughter while armed. He was on release at the time and has been detained since his re-arrest.
This case highlights the serious consequences of violent crime and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to victims and maintain public safety.
