Amard Jefferson, 25, of Fort Washington, Maryland, has been found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 20-year-old Kendall Brown in August 2021, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced on December 20.
In addition to the murder conviction, Jefferson was also found guilty of obstruction of justice for attempting to coerce his girlfriend into taking responsibility for the killing, according to the department’s statement.
The incident occurred on August 7, 2021, when Brown, accompanied by two others, went to Jefferson’s girlfriend’s apartment to retrieve personal belongings. A verbal altercation broke out during their visit, and Jefferson, who was not initially involved, escalated the situation by introducing a firearm and threatening the women, stating he would “call his men.” Moments later, Jefferson shot Brown.
Following the shooting, Jefferson locked Brown inside the apartment, fled the scene with his girlfriend and a minor child, and later disposed of the weapon—a black 9mm ghost gun—by hiding it in a drainpipe a few blocks away.
In an attempt to avoid accountability, Jefferson continued his efforts after his arrest by contacting his girlfriend from the D.C. Department of Corrections. He urged her to falsely claim responsibility for the murder, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jefferson’s sentencing is scheduled for February 14, 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.