Unprovoked Killing of a Young Man in Northeast Results in a Guilty Plea

WASHINGTON - Michael Grayton, 42, of Washington D.C., pleaded guilty in D.C. Superior Court, in connection with a July 2024 homicide of Danzell Hall in Northeast, announced U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, and Chief Pamela A. Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Grayton pleaded guilty on November 1, 2024, before D.C. Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan to one count of second-degree murder while armed. Judge Raffinan set a sentencing date of April 25, 2025. Although this charge carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, Grayton faces a sentence range of between 14 and 26 years under the District of Columbia Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines.

Grayton was arrested on August 20, 2024, and has been detained ever since.

According to court documents, at approximately 2:52 am, on Friday, July 12, 2024, members of MPD's Fifth District responded to the 1500 Block of Benning Road, Northeast, where they located Mr. Danzell Hall, unconscious and unresponsive on the sidewalk, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. DC Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene and after finding no signs consistent with life, Mr. Hall was pronounced dead at 2:54 am. The decedent remained on the scene until being transported to the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The cause of death was later determined to be a gunshot wound to the back and the manner of death ruled as a homicide.

During the investigation MPD personnel reviewed CCTV video from the surrounding areas and identified the defendant as the perpetrator. MPD sought and received an arrest warrant for Grayton and on August 20, 2024, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) located and arrested him.

This case was investigated by MPD's Homicide Division and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nebiyu Feleke.