What started as a late-night fight inside a popular U Street spot has ended with a murder conviction for a Montgomery Village man.
Robert Lowe, 42, of Montgomery Village, Md., was found guilty Tuesday by a D.C. Superior Court jury in the fatal shooting of a man inside Desperados Burger & Bar. Jurors convicted Lowe of second-degree murder while armed, along with related firearms charges, for an April 27, 2024 altercation at the bar. Sentencing is set for July 17, 2026, and prosecutors say Lowe faces up to about 33 years in prison.
Prosecutors' Account and Charges
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, jurors convicted Lowe on one count each of second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The office said the verdict followed witness testimony and other evidence tying Lowe to the shooting, and that the expected sentencing range could expose him to a maximum of 33 years behind bars.
What Happened Inside Desperados
The Metropolitan Police Department says Third District officers heard gunfire in the 1300 block of U Street NW shortly after 1 a.m. on April 27 and found a man with multiple gunshot wounds, who was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police Department later announced an arrest in May 2024 and identified the victim as Kenneth Goins.
Courtroom coverage from DC Witness described eyewitness testimony that the fight started on the crowded bar floor, that Goins appeared to be getting the upper hand in the scuffle, and that prosecutors presented autopsy and ballistics evidence during the trial.
Prosecutors Say Lowe Pulled a Gun
Prosecutors told jurors that Lowe came up behind Goins and struck him with a bottle, then fired multiple shots as the fight continued, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Trial evidence included body-camera footage and surveillance video that reportedly showed a person mounting a motorcycle and fleeing down an alley while officers briefly gave chase.
Arrest, Prosecution and Next Steps
The Metropolitan Police Department says Lowe was arrested on May 22, 2024, and has been held since then. The case is being prosecuted in D.C. Superior Court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephanie Dinan and Tamara Rubb, and Interim MPD Chief Jeffery Carroll joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in announcing the verdict. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17, 2026, before Judge Todd Edelman.
What This Means for the Neighborhood
The verdict ends the trial phase but leaves open broader questions about late-night safety on U Street, one of Northwest D.C.'s busiest nightlife corridors. Authorities say the MPD investigation is complete and that it will be up to the court in July to determine Lowe's sentence.
