Bernard Matthews, a 45-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Diamonte Green. The incident occurred on February 16, 2021, in Southeast Washington D.C. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela A. Smith from the Metropolitan Police Department.
A jury in Superior Court found Matthews guilty on several charges including first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, unlawful possession of a firearm, and carrying a pistol without a license. The verdict was delivered on August 12, 2024, under the supervision of Judge Michael O’Keefe.
Trial evidence revealed that Matthews approached the victim mid-afternoon after walking several blocks. Green had reportedly been threatening Matthews' son via Instagram. Matthews confronted Green at an apartment building located at 33rd and C Street SE and shot him eight times in the entryway.
The case was jointly investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrea Coronado and Kathleen Gibbons led the prosecution efforts.