Federal prosecutors are pushing for a prison sentence of 18 years for a Washington, D.C., police officer convicted of murder in connection with the death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown. Officer Terence Sutton, 40, was found guilty by a jury in 2022 of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and obstruction of justice. His commanding officer, Lt. Andrew Zabavsky, 56, was also convicted of conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice during the same trial.
The tragic incident occurred in October 2020 when Sutton, a 13-year veteran of the police force and a member of the now-disbanded Crime Suppression Team, attempted to stop Hylton-Brown for riding a moped without a helmet on a sidewalk. Hylton-Brown fled the scene, leading officers on a high-speed chase that lasted about three minutes and covered ten city blocks. The officers pursued him aggressively, at times driving against traffic and exceeding the residential speed limit.
The chase ended when Hylton-Brown pulled out of an alley and was hit by an oncoming vehicle. He succumbed to his injuries two days later. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Sutton and Zabavsky violated police policies that restrict pursuits for minor traffic offenses and attempted to conceal the details of the chase and crash afterward.
While Sutton’s vehicle did not directly collide with Hylton-Brown or his moped, prosecutors contended that his reckless disregard for public safety amounted to murder. This case marked a significant moment in D.C. history, as it was the first time an officer was convicted of murder while on duty.
The verdict shocked Sutton, and Hylton-Brown’s mother, Karen Hylton, reacted strongly in court, leading to her removal. She later faced charges of assaulting a U.S. Marshal during the incident but was acquitted. In late 2021, Hylton filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both officers, the D.C. Mayor, and the police department, seeking over $31 billion in damages. That lawsuit is still ongoing.
In a sentencing memo filed recently, prosecutors Elizabeth Aloi and Risa Berkower criticized Sutton’s decision to chase Hylton-Brown over a minor traffic violation, stating it was against the values represented by his badge. They urged the judge to impose a sentence of 216 months, or 18 years, which falls in the middle of the suggested sentencing range of 12 to 24 years. For Zabavsky, they are seeking a 10-year prison sentence.
Throughout the trial, Sutton’s lawyers argued that the prosecution and the court withheld information regarding Hylton-Brown’s alleged gang affiliations with the Kennedy Street Crew (KDY), known for violence and drug trafficking. They claimed that on the day of Hylton-Brown’s death, he was identified by the police’s Intelligence Unit as a confirmed member of KDY and argued that Sutton and Zabavsky had reason to suspect he was involved in criminal activity.
Last June, several months after the convictions, federal prosecutors indicted 12 alleged KDY members on various charges, including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking and assault. In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s Office highlighted that these individuals were operating open-air drug markets in the Brightwood Park area.
Sutton’s defense team has also filed motions to access more information about the ongoing KDY investigation, arguing that it could support Sutton’s case. However, U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman denied this motion, stating that Hylton-Brown’s possible gang involvement did not affect Sutton’s guilt.
In their sentencing memo, Sutton’s lawyers argued that a sentence near the one requested by prosecutors would be unprecedented, as no officer in the country has been charged with murder without having made physical contact with the victim. They expressed concerns about Sutton’s safety in prison, given the number of KDY members currently incarcerated.
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Sutton’s attorneys urged Judge Friedman to consider a more lenient sentence that would include a period of incarceration followed by supervised release, ultimately suggesting a maximum of five years of probation instead. They provided several letters of support, including one from a fellow detective who praised Sutton’s dedication and work ethic.
