Shannon Updike, a 21-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., received a 15-year prison sentence on charges of second-degree murder. The sentencing was announced by U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr. and Chief Pamela Smith from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
Updike's plea of guilty for the murder of Chidzie Njoku was accepted by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on December 19, 2024. The court agreed to a plea deal that included a 15-year sentence.
The case details revealed that Updike used a homemade purple assault rifle to kill Njoku by shooting him twice from close range. After the shooting, Updike attempted to flee but was caught by MPD patrol officers following a pursuit.
In the announcement, U.S. Attorney Martin and Chief Smith extended their appreciation to the Metropolitan Police Department for its investigative work. They also recognized the contributions of team members from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialist Grazy Rivera and Victim/Witness Advocate Christina Bloodworth.
The case's prosecution and investigation were managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ganjei, whose efforts were also acknowledged.