On the evening of March 16, 2016, a dispute in the parking lot of Benning Liquors in the 3400 block of Benning Road NE escalated into a fatal shooting that killed 29-year-old Darnell Lee Richardson of Cheverly, Maryland. Witnesses say Richardson met with Leon Stewart and an unidentified associate; the associate entered Richardson’s car and a fight began inside. After three shots were heard, Richardson tried to drive away and Stewart allegedly fired five more rounds into the vehicle’s rear window. Richardson was struck twice in the upper back, fatally wounding his heart and lung, and his vehicle was later found on the median of a northbound I-295 entry ramp about two blocks from the liquor store. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police identified 24-year-old Leon Stewart of Northeast D.C. as the primary suspect and obtained a warrant charging him with first-degree murder while armed. Stewart was arrested in May 2016 and held without bail. In July 2018 he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and in September 2018 a judge sentenced him to nine years in prison with five years supervised release, giving credit for time served and recommending placement where he could pursue education and trade programs.

Did anyone witness the confrontation at Benning Liquors or notice the vehicle on the I-295 ramp that night?