Ricardo Mitchell | Homicide Watch DC

Ricardo Mitchell Sentenced to 26 Years for Murder of Wyatt Robinson

Penny Ray — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:51:56 -0400

A grand jury described the murder of 33-year-old Wyatt Earp Robinson as “especially heinous, atrocious and cruel.” Judge Lynn Leibovitz described it as “terrible, unjustifiable and a hot-blooded act.” Robinson's killer, Ricardo Mitchell, said Friday at his sentencing hearing that he wishes things had turned out differently.

“I humbly apologize to Mr. Robinson's family and also my family,” Mitchell told a crowded courtroom. “I'm not here to make any excuses. I dread every single day. I just wish things would've went a totally different way.”

Mitchell, 34, pled guilty to second-degree murder and a related weapons offense in connection with Robinson's death in April. Judge Leibovitz sentenced him to 26 years in prison in accordance with that plea agreement Friday.

According to court documents, on the evening of August 21, 2011, Mitchell and Robinson exchanged words outside a residence in the 3900 block of Clay Place Northeast. Robinson then walked away toward his vehicle, where his girlfriend and young child were waiting. Mitchell, meanwhile, ran into the house, grabbed a gun, and then followed Robinson up the street toward Minnesota Avenue.

Documents say that Robinson was within five feet of his vehicle when Mitchell shot him several times. Crime scene investigators recovered nine .40 caliber shell casings at the scene, all from the same gun; Robinson was unarmed, prosecutors say.

Wanda Ortiz, Robinson's mother, spoke at sentencing Friday and said that she admired her son most for his commitment to being a father to his five children, whose ages range from four to sixteen. Ortiz said that she would call Robinson every Father's Day, just to let him know how much she respected him.

“Everyone who knew [Robinson] loved him,” Ortiz said. He helped homeless people on the block whenever he could; and at his funeral, there was standing room only, she said.

“I can't believe that God, in all his wisdom, meant for death to be the end,” Ortiz wept in court. “I have to believe I will see [my son] again. The only hope I have of seeing Wyatt again is to see God.”

A Metropolitan Police officer, who was romantically involved with Mitchell and witnessed the shooting, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and neglect of an officer to make an arrest last year.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office is below.

Maryland Man Sentenced to 26 Years in Prison For August 2011 Slaying in Northeast Washington -Defendant Chased Victim and Shot Him Numerous Times-

WASHINGTON – Ricardo Mitchell, 33, of Temple Hills, Md., was sentenced today to 26 years in prison on a charge of second-degree murder while armed in a slaying that took place in August 2011 in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Mitchell pled guilty in April 2013 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to the murder charge as well as a charge of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He was sentenced by the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz. Upon completion of his prison term, Mitchell is to be placed on five years of supervised release.

According to the government’s evidence, in the early evening of Aug. 21, 2011, Mitchell was outside a residence in the 3900 block of Clay Place NE when he exchanged words with the victim, Wyatt Earp Robinson. Mr. Robinson, 33, walked away. Mr. Robinson headed toward his vehicle, where his girlfriend and four-year-old child were waiting.

Mitchell then ran into the residence. He returned outside and ran from the front porch of the house with a gun in his hand and up the sidewalk, toward Minnesota Avenue, and after Mr. Robinson. He caught up with Mr. Robinson when the victim was approximately five feet from his vehicle. At that point, Mitchell confronted Mr. Robinson and shot him several times.

After shooting Mr. Robinson, who had nothing in his hands but his cellphone, the defendant began to walk away, but turned back toward the victim and fired another shot at him. A total of nine .40-caliber cartridge casings were found on the scene by police, and all were fired from the same firearm. An autopsy revealed nine gunshot wounds to Mr. Robinson’s body.

Following the shooting, Mitchell fled into and through the residence on Clay Street NE. He exited through the residence’s back door and fled the scene on a motorcycle.

After shooting and killing Mr. Robinson, Mitchell fled to a storage facility in Forestville, Md., where he hid the motorcycle that he used to flee the crime scene. The defendant is captured on surveillance footage from that storage facility wearing the same clothes that he was seen wearing at the time of the murder. Mitchell was arrested on Aug. 24, 2011.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Criminal Investigators Durand Odom and Zachary McMenamin, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Paralegal Specialists Mia Beamon, Kendra Johnson, Marian Russell and Phaylyn Hunt. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan M. Taylor, Teresa Howie and Stephen J. Gripkey, who prosecuted the matter.

Ricardo Mitchell Pleads Guilty in Shooting Death of Wyatt Earp Robinson

Laura Amico — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:49:09 -0400

A Maryland man charged with the “especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel" killing of another on Minnesota Avenue in Aug. 2011 has pleaded guilty to charges in connection with the case.

Ricardo Mitchell entered the plea to second-degree murder while armed in court Tuesday, saying that he shot and killed Wyatt Earp Robinson after the two "exchanged words."

Mitchell signed a statement of evidence in the case, agreeing that he

ran from the front porch of the house with a gun in his hand and up the sidewalk, toward Minnesota Ave., and after [Robisnon]. [He] caught up with [Robinson] when [Robinson] was approximately five feet from his vehicle, whereupon [Mitchell] confronted [Robinson] and then shot [him] several times. After shooting [Robinson], who had nothing in his hands but his cell phone, [Mitchell] began to walk away, but turned back toward [Robinson] and fired another shot at [him]. A total of nine .40 caliber cartridge casings were found on the scene by police, and all were fired from the same firearm. An autopsy revealed nine gunshot wounds to [Robinson's] body.

An MPD officer, who was romantically linked with Mitchell and witnessed the shooting, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and neglect of an officer to make an arrest just over a year ago.

According to a press release from the US Attorney's Office, Mitchell faces a statutory minimum of 40 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for sentencing June 28.

Plea documents related to this case will be added to this post Wednesday.

A press release from the US Attorney's Office is below

Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Charges In August 2011 Slaying in Northeast Washington -Defendant Chased Victim and Shot Him Numerous Times-

WASHINGTON – Ricardo Mitchell, 33, of Temple Hills, Md., pled guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed in a slaying that took place in August 2011 in Northeast Washington, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.

Mitchell entered the plea in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. He also pled guilty to a charge of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The Honorable Lynn Leibovitz scheduled sentencing for June 28, 2013. Mitchell faces a statutory maximum of 40 years in prison on the murder charge and up to five additional years for the weapons offense.

According to the government’s evidence, in the early evening of Aug. 21, 2011, Mitchell was outside a residence in the 3900 block of Clay Place NE when he exchanged words with the victim, Wyatt Earp Robinson. Mr. Robinson, 33, walked away. Mr. Robinson headed toward his vehicle, where his girlfriend and four-year-old child were waiting.

Mitchell then ran into the residence. He returned outside and ran from the front porch of the house with a gun in his hand and up the sidewalk, toward Minnesota Avenue, and after Mr. Robinson. He caught up with Mr. Robinson when the victim was approximately five feet from his vehicle. At that point, Mitchell confronted Mr. Robinson and shot him several times.

After shooting Mr. Robinson, who had nothing in his hands but his cellphone, the defendant began to walk away, but turned back toward the victim and fired another shot at him. A total of nine .40-caliber cartridge casings were found on the scene by police, and all were fired from the same firearm. An autopsy revealed nine gunshot wounds to Mr. Robinson’s body.

Following the shooting, Mitchell fled into and through the residence on Clay Street NE. He exited through the residence’s back door and fled the scene on a motorcycle.

After shooting and killing Mr. Robinson, Mitchell fled to a storage facility in Forestville, Md., where he hid the motorcycle that he used to flee the crime scene. The defendant is captured on surveillance footage from that storage facility wearing the same clothes that he was seen wearing at the time of the murder. Mitchell was arrested on Aug. 24, 2011.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers and crime scene technicians who investigated the case for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). He also acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Criminal Investigator Durand Odom, Victim/Advocate Marcia Rinker and Paralegal Specialists Mia Beamon and Kendra Johnson. Finally, he expressed appreciation for the work of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan M. Taylor, Teresa Howie and Stephen J. Gripkey, who prosecuted the matter.

Plea documents have been added to this post.

Ricardo Mitchell Plea Docs (PDF)Ricardo Mitchell Plea Docs (Text)

Grand Jury Charges that Minn. Ave. Killing was "Especially Heinous, Atrocious, or Cruel"

Laura Amico — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:24:39 -0400

Ricardo Mitchell pled innocent Wednesday in the shooting death of Wyatt Earp Robinson; Fox5 reported last week that Mitchell's girlfriend, a police officer, has pled guilty to charges connected to the case.

According to charging documents in the case, investigators believe that as Robinson was walking down the street, he “looked in the direction” of three people sitting on a Clay Place porch. One of those people, Mitchell, chased after Robinson, pushed him with a gun, then fired at him multiple times.

A Grand Jury charged Mitchell with first-degree murder while armed with the aggravating circumstance that the murder was "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel."

Mitchell was also charged with three weapons offenses.

Read the indictment below.

Fox5: Police Officer who Witnessed Wyatt Earp Robinson's Murder Pleads Guilty

Laura Amico — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:54:17 -0400

Fox5's Paul Wagner reports that a police officer who witnessed Wyatt Earp Robinson's shooting death in Northeast DC has pled guilty. The officer, Antonia McClam, was charged with obstruction of justice and neglect of an officer to make an arrest, Wagner reported.

Court documents filed in the case indicated the veteran officer had agreed to accept a plea.

After leaving the hour-long hearing, before being booked, McClam broke down in tears.

The veteran officer, who is on administrative leave with pay, was released under conditions set by the judge.

Law enforcement sources say McClam is in a wheelchair after suffering serious injuries in a car accident.

According to Wagner and court documents related to Robinson's murder, McClam was a witness to her boyfriend, Ricardo Mitchell, gunning down Robinson on Minnesota Avenue just before 7 p.m. on Sunday, August 21, 2011.

According to charging documents in the case, investigators believe that as Robinson was walking down the street, he “looked in the direction” of three people sitting on a Clay Place porch. One of those people, Mitchell, chased after Robinson, pushed him with a gun, then fired at him multiple times.

Mitchell is due in court April 18 for arraignment.

Watch Fox5's report on this story below.

Court documents indicate DC Police officer, accused of witnessing a murder, pled guilty: MyFoxDC.com

"Is she above the law?" Wyatt Robinson's Mother Asks Following Preliminary Hearing

Laura Amico — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:11:29 -0400

In Chief Judge Lee Satterfield's courtroom Wednesday, what wasn't in the testimony was just as significant for Wanda Ortiz as what was.

"I want to know something," Ortiz said. "What's going on with her?"

"Her" is a DC police officer, now removed from duties, who authorities believe was present when Ortiz' son, Wyatt Earp Robinson, was gunned down outside a seafood shop on Minnesota Avenue NE in August.

According to charging documents in the case, investigators believe that as Robinson was walking down the street, he “looked in the direction” of three people sitting on a Clay Place porch. One of those men chased after Robinson, pushed him with a gun, then fired at him multiple times.

That man, whom police identified as Ricardo Mitchell, was in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing. Satterfield found substantial probability that Mitchell committed the offense, charged as first-degree murder, and ordered him held pending an indictment.

But it was the DC cop, Mitchell's girlfriend, who Ortiz wanted to see in court.

"She had every opportunity to stop him," Ortiz said. "The fact that she didn't is the most heartbreaking thing ever."

Police Chief Cathy Lanier said last month that if the officer was present and failed to take action, then she would face criminal charges.

Though listed as "witness two" in charging documents and used to build the government's case against Mitchell, the girlfriend was not a part of testimony at the preliminary hearing. Prosecutor Steve Gripkey did not ask that those documents be admitted to the record and did not ask Detective Hosam Nasr any questions about witness two.

Because witness two was not discussed on direct examination, defense attorney Lauren Bernstein was not permitted to ask any questions about the witness, either.

Ortiz said she just wants to see the girlfriend in court.

"Is she above the law? Anyone else they would have brought into that courtroom. I don't want her to be held above the law," Ortiz said.

Update: Fox5 was also in the court room today. Here's Paul Wagner's report on the hearing:

Man Accused in Fatal DC Shooting Appears in Court; DC Officer Alleged in Witnessing Murder: MyFoxDC.com

Comment of the Day: "Not Everyone Recovers from Childhood Issues"

Laura Amico — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:14:58 -0400

This comment of the day comes from "Guest," who wrote in about Wyatt Earp Robinson and Ricardo Mitchell.

First off let me say that my condolences goes out to Wyatt Robinsons family. I know this is a devistating time for you all. But I am a relative of Ricardo Mitchell and i do not condone. Every has a right to their own personal opinions, but how many of us were actually there?? First of all we all no that the news is famous for covering and exaggerating stories. Dont get me wrong I am not saying that he should not be penalized for what he did. But know what knows what was going threw his head to make him do something like that. He has a pyscological problem, and not every one recovers from childhood issues.

Officer Involved in Wyatt Earp Robinson Shooting Could Face Criminal Charges, Says Lanier

Laura Amico — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:13:24 -0400

Yesterday on WTOP's "Ask the Chief" program, MPD Chief Cathy Lanier spoke about the Wyatt Earp Robinson case and allegations that an MPD officer witnessed the shooting and failed to take action.

Reports the Washington Post;

Three law enforcement sources said authorities are investigating whether the officer failed to take police action after the shooting. The alleged shooter and the female officer have a romantic relationship, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak about the case.

“If the investigation confirms that that is what exactly happened, then the officer is facing criminal charges,” Lanier said Thursday on WTOP’s “Ask the Chief” show.

On the radio, Lanier addressed the issue of police misconduct. She said that 23 officers have been arrested this year on criminal charges. In 2010, about 18 officers were arrested, Lanier said, fewer than in 2009 when the figure approached 30.

Listen to the radio program on WTOP.

DC Police Officer was Witness to Minnesotta Ave Killing, Reports MyFoxDC

Laura Amico — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:01:07 -0400

A DC police officer "romantically linked" to Ricardo Mitchell could face criminal charges connected with the Minnesota Ave. NE murder of Wyatt Earp Robinson, Paul Wagner from MyFoxDC reports.

Reports Wagner:

Law enforcement sources say the officer, who is assigned to the Second District, first told investigators she had not witnessed the crime. Then, upon further questioning she changed her story. Admitting she was in the 3900 block of Clay Place Northeast when detectives say Ricardo Mitchell, 32, shot and killed Wyatt Robinson.

The officer, who sources say is a veteran with at least 10 years of service, has had her police powers revoked. She could face obstruction of justice and or accessory after the fact charges.

Ricardo Mitchell Held in Minnesota Ave. Shooting Death of Wyatt Earp Robinson

Laura Amico — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:45:41 -0400

Ricardo Mitchell was presented today with a charge of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Wyatt Earp Robinson.

Appearing in court wearing a light brown polo shirt and jeans, Mitchell was silent through the proceeding. He's expected back in court on Sept 8 and was ordered held pending that date.

Prosecutors believe that Mitchell shot Robinson Sunday evening on Minnesota Avenue NE in front of at least two witnesses.

According to charging documents in the case, Robinson was shot to death on the sidewalk outside of seafood shop on Minnesota Ave NE. Investigators said that as Robinson was walking down the street, he "looked in the direction" of three people sitting on a Clay Place porch.

One of the witnesses said Robinson and Mitchell "exchanged words similar to 'what the fuck are you looking at?,'" then Mitchell ran inside the home, returning to the porch with a pistol in hand, then left the porch and ran after Robinson, charging documents allege.

They go on to say that Mitchell used the pistol to "smush" Robinson in the head, then he fired several shots at him and Robinson fell. Mitchell began to flee, the documents state, but then paused and began shooting at Robinson again.

Robinson, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mitchell, 32, is a plumber in Annapolis and lives in Temple Hills, Md., said his attorney, Lauren Bernstein.

Temple Hills Man Arrested in Minnesota Ave. NE Fatal Sunday Shooting

Laura Amico — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:22:50 -0400

A Temple Hills, Md. man has been arrested in connection with the Sunday shooting death of Wyatt Earp Robinson on Minnesota Avenue NE.

MPD said in a press release that 32-year-old Ricardo Mitchell is suspected of first-degree murder while armed in the case.

MPD's press release is after the jump.

August 24, 2011

Arrest Made in the Homicide in the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE

( Washington, DC)-Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch have announced that an arrest has been made in the fatal shooting which occurred in the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE.

On Sunday, August 21, 2011, at approximately 6:55 pm, units from the Sixth District responded to the 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE to investigate the sounds of gunshots. Upon their arrival, they observed a male lying on the sidewalk, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel responded to the scene and determined that the victim had no signs consistent with life. Subsequently, the victim was pronounced dead by a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

The decedent has been identified as 33-year-old Wyatt Earp Robinson of Northeast, DC.

On Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at approximately 1:00 pm, members from the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested 32-year-old Ricardo Mitchell of Temple Hills, MD pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant charging him with Murder One while Armed.