A D.C. jury has convicted 20-year-old D'Andre Montgomery in the December 2023 killing of 28-year-old Kenneth Barksdale, a Southeast father who was shot after stepping outside to grab a forgotten phone from his car. The deadly encounter unfolded on the 1200 block of 44th Place SE after Barksdale confronted a group that investigators say was roaming the street and checking car door handles for unlocked vehicles. He was shot and died later that evening.
Jury Convicts Defendant
The Superior Court jury on Tuesday found Montgomery guilty of second-degree murder while armed, conspiracy, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle during a crime of violence, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Judge Michael Ryan has scheduled sentencing for August 21, 2026.
How Prosecutors Say It Unfolded
Authorities say the shooting took place around 8:07 p.m. on December 16, 2023, when Montgomery and two others drove through the 1200 block of 44th Place SE, pulling on car door handles to see whether any vehicles had been left unlocked, the Metropolitan Police Department said.
According to investigators, Barksdale had just taken his 1-year-old son inside his family's home when he realized he had left his phone in the car. He went back outside to retrieve it, confronted the group near his vehicle, and was shot as he ran back up the steps toward the house. Prosecutors say the defendants kept firing even as Barksdale tried to flee.
Co-Defendants and Arrests
Two other men, Kevin Hider and Eric Sheffield, face related charges in the case. During pretrial hearings, prosecutors presented testimony tying the defendants to the scene, D.C. Witness reported.
Montgomery was arrested on July 31, 2024, and has remained in custody as prosecutors prepared the case for trial.
Earlier Coverage and Police Tips
Hoodline previously reported on the arrest and early stages of the investigation in 2024 in our initial coverage, Suspect Arrested in Connection.
Police have urged anyone with information about the case to contact the department's tip line and said they are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Investigators have asked residents to share tips with authorities rather than confronting possible suspects themselves.
What Happens Next
Montgomery is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21, 2026. The case is being prosecuted in Superior Court by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, which said the evidence presented at trial persuaded the jury to return guilty verdicts on the charges this week.
