The youth did not react as D.C. Superior Court Judge James Crowell read the charges — including robbery, felony murder, and assault — and told him: “A life was taken and your role in that cannot be erased.”
Teen Sentenced in D.C. DJ The Barber’s Murder
16-year-old will remain in juvenile detention until 21 after pleading guilty in the 2024 fatal robbery of beloved D.C. DJ Bryan Smith.
A 16-year-old was sentenced to a juvenile facility until he turns 21 after pleading guilty to five charges related to the October 2024 murder of 39-year-old Bryan Smith, a.k.a. “The Barber,” a beloved local DJ, barber, and stylist who died after being robbed in the 500 block of T Street NW.
According to prosecutors, Smith was seen on surveillance footage being followed by a group — including the 16-year-old — while walking along T Street in the early morning hours of October 27. He was later found unconscious, suffering from head trauma and other injuries, with blood on his nose and hands, and was transported to a local hospital.
The 39-year-old remained in a coma for more than a week in a Virginia hospital before passing away on November 7. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma, and the case was classified as a homicide.
The 16-year-old stole Smith’s cell phone — later tracked to the youth’s home — as well as his wallet. Prosecutors say the teen and a 17-year-old accomplice allegedly used one of Smith’s credit cards to order food at McDonald’s and make purchases at a Nike store.
The 17-year-old accused of being the teen’s accomplice has not entered a guilty plea, but has undergone a series of mental health evaluations. In December, a forensic psychologist who examined him determined the youth has limited cognitive abilities, according to The Washington Post.
Police say surveillance footage shows the teens assaulting and attempting to rob individuals in the 1900 block of 14th Street NW around 5:50 a.m. Minutes later, they allegedly robbed another person in the 1800 block of Vermont Avenue NW before fleeing in a vehicle. According to an MPD press release, they are also suspected of robbing a third victim about 90 minutes later in the 900 block of Rhode Island Avenue NE.
Neither of the robbery victims reported injuries.
The 16-year-old reportedly had five other pending robbery and assault cases against him on the night in question. Despite this, as The Washington Post reported in December, the youth’s mother was upset — even attempting to fire his lawyer — after her son chose to plead guilty to the charges related to Smith’s murder.
Under D.C. law, the most a youth can be sentenced to for a crime as serious as murder is confinement in a youth detention center until he turns 21.
“It’s not as much justice as I wanted, but that’s all that legally could be given, so I’m very happy with that,” Lela Sandoval, Smith’s mother, said at the sentencing.
Sadly, Sandoval lost her older son, John, to a brain aneurysm just three months before Smith was murdered. While addressing the court, she fought back tears, telling Judge Crowell that Smith was the only one she had left to take care of her.
Several of Smith’s friends, family members, and fellow DJs spoke at the sentencing hearing, detailing Smith’s loving, friendly personality and asking for the maximum penalty for his assailant.
“He was an amazing, amazing human who was just filled with joy, fun, laughter, the best laugh I’ve ever heard in my life,” Smith’s boyfriend, Tyler, told the court. “It’s been very tough. I miss him so, so much.”
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