WASHINGTON (AP) — A man in Washington, D.C. has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a stabbing homicide that occurred in Southeast. 29-year-old Michael Caldwell was sentenced for the murder of Damien Thompson. The incident took place on June 4, 2023, in the 4300 block of Halley Terrace Southeast around 11:30 p.m.

According to court records, the altercation between Thompson and Caldwell began as a verbal argument on the street and quickly escalated. Thompson threw a bottle at Caldwell, and then attempted to grab a plastic chair to throw at him. Caldwell reacted by lunging at Thompson and stabbing him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground unconscious. He then proceeded to stab Thompson eight more times in the chest as he lay defenseless on the ground, ultimately leading to Thompson’s death from his injuries.

In a courtroom appearance on August 14, 2023, Caldwell pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. As a result, he has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.

The sentencing brings some closure to the family and friends of Damien Thompson, but it also highlights the ongoing issue of violence in certain neighborhoods in Southeast Washington. Local authorities have been working to address such issues and to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The case also raises questions about the impact of violence on communities and the need for preventive measures and support systems for individuals at risk of such behavior.