Woman Pleads Guilty to Second-Degree Murder While Armed In Stabbing of David Messerschmitt at the Donovan Hotel in February

From MPD:

“Jamyra Gallmon, 21, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty today to a charge of second-degree murder while armed for the Feb. 9, 2015 murder of David Messerschmitt in a robbery at a downtown Washington hotel, announced Acting U.S. Attorney

Vincent H. Cohen, Jr. and Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Gallmon pled guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The plea, which is contingent upon the Court’s approval, calls for a sentence between 18 and 25 years.

Also today, a co-defendant, Dominique Johnson, 19, also of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery for her role in events on the day of the crime. Johnson faces a statutory maximum of five years in prison.

The Honorable Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for both defendants to take place on Aug. 14, 2015.

“Our hearts go out to everyone who knew and loved David Messerschmitt,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen. “It is outrageous that a young man with such a promising future was murdered over a cell phone and a Metro card. We can only hope that the rapid apprehension and conviction of those responsible for his death will help his loved ones find some sense of peace.”

“These criminals preyed upon David Messerschmitt for his property and they are being held accountable. The guilty pleas are just one step closer for the Messerschmitt family to attempt to gain closure in this senseless crime,” said Chief Lanier. “Our detectives and the U.S.

Attorney’s Office worked diligently to close and prosecute this case.”

Mr. Messerschmitt, 30, was killed on the evening of Feb. 9, 2015. He was attacked while a guest at the Donovan Hotel, in the 1100 block of 14th Street NW. According to the government’s evidence, Mr. Messerschmitt posted an advertisement earlier that day on Craigslist soliciting responses from other men. Gallmon pretended to be a man interested in meeting Mr.Messerschmitt and responded to his advertisement by e-mail. In fact, however, her true purpose in meeting with him was to rob him of his possessions.

Gallmon and Mr. Messerschmitt arranged to meet at approximately 7:30 p.m. in his hotel room. Gallmon walked into the hotel at 7:44 p.m., concealing her identity by wearing a jacket with a hood up and a covering over the bottom half of her face. She then entered Mr.

Messerschmitt’s unlocked room. She attempted to rob him, and, when Mr. Messerschmitt fought back, she stabbed him approximately seven times in his chest, groin area, arm, and back.

During the robbery, Gallmon took Mr. Messerschmitt’s cell phone and SmarTrip Metro card. She then left the room and immediately made her way out of the hotel, once again disguising her identity by wearing a jacket with the hood up.

According to the government’s evidence, Johnson and Gallmon had discussed committing a robbery and traveled together to the hotel on the night of the murder. Johnson subsequently used Mr. Messerschmitt’s SmarTrip card on a near-daily basis for about six weeks.

Gallmon was arrested April 1, 2015 and Johnson was arrested seven days later.

In announcing the pleas, Acting U.S. Attorney Cohen and Chief Lanier commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). They also expressed appreciation for the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, Paralegal Specialist Vanessa Trent-Valentine, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Donovan.Finally, they acknowledged the work of Assistant U.S. Attorney Shana L. Fulton, who investigated and prosecuted the case.”