Kenneth Coleman, 37, of Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the murder of 24-year-old Jireh Martinez, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The sentencing took place after Coleman pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed on July 13, 2026.
The incident occurred on November 17, 2023, when Coleman attempted to rob Martinez as he was returning home from a convenience store. Court documents reveal that Coleman pressed a gun against Martinez’s head and demanded his belongings. Despite dropping the bag he was carrying, Martinez did not comply further. After multiple demands, Coleman shot Martinez, who collapsed to the ground. When law enforcement arrived, they found that Martinez’s only possession was a single dime.
Coleman was arrested on separate charges on February 9, 2024, and has been in custody since that time. Alongside the prison sentence, the court also ordered Coleman to serve five years of supervised release following his incarceration.
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro commended the Metropolitan Police Department for their investigative efforts in the case. Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll supported this sentiment, acknowledging the hard work of those involved in bringing the case to justice.
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