A Washington, D.C. man was indicted on Wednesday on charges of felony murder connected to two deaths and a spree of violent crimes in the capital, authorities said. Corde Fitzhugh-Clingman, 23, is accused of the brutal killings of Muntsier Sharfi, 24, on July 8, 2021, and Zekariya Elmi, 26, on April 25, 2022.
The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela A. Smith, also includes charges involving the attempted armed robbery of both slain men and another individual. In what prosecutors seem to be attempting to build as a strong case against Fitzhugh-Clingman, he faces significant charges beyond the two counts of felony murder.
According to a statement from the Department of Justice, the grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia handed down an indictment for first-degree murder while armed (felony murder), with aggravating circumstances, attempted armed robbery, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license.
Fitzhugh-Clingman is set to face a judge at an arraignment on April 12, where he will formally be charged. The hearing is to be overseen by the Honorable Anthony Epstein. If convicted of the stacked charges, Corde Fitzhugh-Clingman could potentially serve a life sentence in prison, marking the gravity of the crimes he is accused of committing.
