Source: Office of United States Attorneys
WASHINGTON – David Botchway, 20, of Gwynn Oak, MD, was sentenced on May 31, 2024, to 18 years in prison for second degree murder while armed for the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Andre Baker, of Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt also ordered the defendant to complete five years of supervised release, register as a gun offender, pay a fine to victim’s compensation fund, and receive mental health treatment.
According to the government’s evidence, on August 5, 2023, Mr. Baker and two friends were standing near a bus stop in the 1200 block of U Street Northwest, after enjoying a night out in the U Street neighborhood. At around 5:01 a.m., Botchway approached the group and, without warning or any provocation, pointed the gun at Mr. Baker and shot him multiple times in the head and torso. Mr. Baker died a short time later. One of the bullets also grazed one of the victim’s friends.
In announcing the sentence U.S. Attorney Graves and Chief Smith commended the work of those investigating the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, including Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke of the Homicide section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.