Local Teenager Sentenced to 16 Years in Prison for Carjacking and High-Speed Chase

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Columbia
January 11, 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Rashawn “Rah Rah” King was sentenced today by the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to 16 years’ imprisonment for a 2008 armed carjacking and robbery in Southeast Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips announced.

King, 17 and charged as an adult in this matter, formerly of the 1200 block of Howison Place, SW, together with Christopher “Barbeast” Holmes, 18, formerly of the 5000 block of Bass Place, SE, was found guilty in October 2009 by a Superior Court jury of Armed Carjacking, Armed Robbery, Fleeing From Law Enforcement, Destruction of Property, and Possession of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence, among other offenses. These convictions stemmed from the carjacking and robbery of an individual at gunpoint near the corner of 22nd and Savannah Place, SE, on October 24, 2008. Holmes was also convicted of three counts of Obstruction of Justice and one count of Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice. Holmes will be sentenced on February 26, 2010.

The government’s evidence at trial established that at approximately 5:00 p.m. on October 24, 2008, Holmes drove King to an area outside of a barbershop located at 22nd and Savannah Place, SE, where an individual was walking to his car. King got out of the car, pointed a gun at the individual, and took about $1000 cash and his keys from him. King then drove away in the victim’s car, following Holmes. The two were observed by a police officer minutes later a few blocks away shooting several times at people on the sidewalk. A chase ensued in which Holmes escaped, but King drove the victim’s car across the I-295 bridge, weaving in and out of rush hour traffic at high speeds. Pursued by the police, King drove all the way to a frontage road near L'Enfant Plaza, where he crashed and then abandoned the stolen auto. Officers caught King after a foot chase that ended at 12th and D Streets, SW. The victim was able to identify Holmes as having participated in the crime later on the day of the offense, and he was subsequently arrested and charged in the case.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Phillips praised the outstanding work of the Metropolitan Police Department officers who captured King and investigated the carjacking, including Officers Todd Williams, Willie Gaultney, Alvin Lytle, Brian Stacks, Sgt. Michael Halstead, and Detective James “JV” Francis. Additionally, he praised the work of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, especially FBI Agents and United States Park Police Detectives William Sepeck, Paul Edwards, and Wayne Humberson, who assisted in the investigation of the case. U.S. Attorney Phillips also commended the invaluable assistance of Antoinette Sakamsa with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in preparing the case for trial. Finally, Mr. Phillips praised the work of AUSA Sean Tonolli, who investigated and indicted the case, and AUSA Todd Gee, who tried it.