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Gerald Brevard convicted of murder and hate crimes in attacks on homeless men

A D.C. jury found Brevard guilty on October 27 in the killing of Morgan Holmes and attacks on two other men. Sentencing is scheduled for January 29, 2027.

THE DECODER NEWSROOM PUBLISHED 3 NOVEMBER 2026 · UPDATED 4 NOVEMBER 2026
The H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse, home of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
The H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse, home of D.C. Superior Court. File photograph, June 2026; court location.Photo: APK / Wikimedia Commons
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27 October 2026
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Verdict
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Verdict returned
Source record
2 verified sources
Detailed case report · Facts are attributed to the linked court, agency and reporting records. Allegations remain allegations unless a court has returned a verdict.

Jury returns verdict

A D.C. Superior Court jury convicted Gerald Brevard III on October 27 of murder and bias-related hate crimes in the killing of Morgan Holmes and attacks on two other men experiencing homelessness.

Brevard, 35, was found guilty of 16 counts, including first-degree murder while armed, assault and firearm offenses, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced. The hate-crime findings were based on the victims' actual or perceived homelessness. [1]

March 2022 attacks

According to DC News Now's report, the prosecution's evidence described three attacks in Northeast Washington between March 3 and March 9, 2022.

One victim was shot while sleeping beneath a bridge on New York Avenue. A second was shot at his H Street encampment and suffered lasting injuries. Holmes, 54, was killed in the third attack at an encampment on New York Avenue, according to the station and the prosecutor's announcement. [1] [2]

Sentencing scheduled

Judge Neal Kravitz scheduled sentencing for January 29, 2027, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Brevard was arrested on March 15, 2022, and has remained in custody.

The Metropolitan Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle D. Jackson and Sarah C. Santiago prosecuted the case. [1]

Sources & further reading

  1. Jury Finds Man Guilty of Bias-Related Hate Crime for Murdering a Homeless Man ↗U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia · 2026-10-27 · Primary source
  2. DC man convicted of murdering homeless man, attacking others in 2022 ↗DC News Now, via AOL · 2026-10-27
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