RICHMOND, Va. -- Prosecutors said the jury-recommended sentence for Quinton Washington Jr. was no coincidence. That was the exact age of the victim, Marquis Richardson, when he was shot dead on the night of Oct. 3 of 2013.
The jury recommended Washington serve 18 years for the second-degree murder charge and three years for the weapons charge. The judge agreed with the recommendation, but dismissed the three years on the weapons charge. During the trial, the question of who exactly brought the weapon was never answered.
Washington’s father, Reese Washington, a former chaplain with the Richmond Department of Corrections, testified in court today that it was not like his son to be involved in this kind of violence. He begged the judge for mercy for his son.
The defense told the jury his client approached the vehicle where the victim was sitting in the passenger seat, to discuss why Richardson was smoking a cigar with
Washington’s asthmatic child close by. Defense lawyer David Lassister said that during that time Washington noticed Richardson had a gun. The two men started wrestling, at which time Washington shot the victim in self-defense.
However, the prosecution said that in no way was the shooting carried out to protect Washington. The Commonwealth’s Attorneys told the jury that Washington approached the vehicle where the victim was laid back in the passenger seat and became angry.
Prosecutor Tania Stark said the anger turned deadly as Washington shot Richardson seven times and “executed him.” Stark described in detail the forensic evidence, she believes proves the victim was trying to run from the defendant before being shot to death.
Washington’s lawyer has 30 days to appeal the sentencing.
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