CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — A 39-year-old man was sentenced Wednesday to life without parole plus 125 years in prison for fatally shooting a man while his parents watched in Charles County.
On June 15, 2020, law enforcement officers responded to Shawnee Lane in Waldorf after reports of a shooting. Once at the scene, officers found Kwasi Louard-Clarke dead due to numerous gunshot wounds. Just a short distance away, Montreal Wade and Tyrone Coleman were also found suffering from gunshot wounds. They both, fortunately, lived after being transported to trauma centers for life-threatening injuries.
An investigation revealed that before the shooting Richard Middleton, Jr. and Louard-Clarke got into a fight at a barber shop where Middleton worked. After, Louard-Clarke left the barber shop and arrived at his Lancelot Drive home, where his parents also lived. Coleman and Wade arrived soon after to hang out with Louard-Clarke.
Middleton, armed with a gun, was dropped off in the neighborhood of Louard-Clarke's home, walked to his home, and then began shooting at the men, who were standing outside at the time, according to State's Attorney Tony Covington.
Coleman was shot in the arm and stomach while running away. Wade, who also attempted to run away, was shot in the back twice. Both men were able to escape in a vehicle drove by Wade.
Louard-Clarke was shot in the leg while trying to escape to a neighboring home for help. Middleton unlawfully entered the residence where Louard-Clarke fled, where children were also present, and pointed a gun at the owner of the residence. Louard-Clarke then exited the home, followed by Middleton. Louard-Clarke pled for his life but was shot multiple times, including at close range to the head.
Middleton left the area after the shooting but was apprehended by police the same day.
Multiple people, including Louard-Clarke's parents, witnessed the shooting, and Middleton confessed to police officers. Surveillance footage also captured the beginning of the shooting.
Both of Louard-Clarke’s parents witnessed the initial shooting, and his mother witnessed Louard-Clarke in his final resting place after the incident was over.
“No parent expects to bury their child. [In this case,] the last memory of your child is him being violently killed,” Assistant State’s Attorney Jonathan Beattie told the judge at sentencing.
Beattie also described the incident in court as being amongst 'the most violent and heinous crimes' that they have come across.
A Charles County jury convicted Middleton of charges for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, home invasion, and other related charges
Middleton's complete sentencing includes:
- First-Degree Murder
- Life Without Parole
- Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
- 20 Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
- Attempted First-Degree Murder of Wade
- 50 Years, Consecutive to Previous Counts
- Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
- 20 Years, Concurrent to Count five
- Attempted First-Degree Murder of Coleman
- 50 Years, Consecutive to Previous Counts
- Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
- 20 Years, Concurrent to Count nine
- Home Invasion
- 25 Years, Consecutive to Previous Counts
- Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
- 20 Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
- First-Degree Assault
- 15 Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
- Use of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
- 10 Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
- Loaded Handgun on Person
- Three Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
- Wear, Carry, and Transport of Handgun on Person
- Three Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
- Wear, Carry, and Transport of Handgun in Vehicle
- Three Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
- Illegal Possession of a Regulated Firearm after Being Convicted of Disqualifying Crime
- Five Years, Concurrent to Previous Counts
Watch Next: DC man who repeatedly attacked police with metal pole on Jan. 6 sentenced to 63 months in prison
