Wilbert Whitaker, 77, was found guilty of the 2016 murder of Leo Hackett, his daughter’s boyfriend, in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. The jury delivered the verdict on November 4, 2026, convicting Whitaker of second-degree murder while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on April 30, 2016, in Northeast Washington, D.C. Following a 911 call regarding a family disturbance, officers responded to the scene but found no injuries or evidence of an assault, leading to no arrests at that time. However, shortly after the officers left, Whitaker retrieved a .38 special revolver from his bedroom and followed Hackett outside as the victim was leaving for work. After calling out to Hackett, Whitaker fired two shots, striking him in the chest and resulting in his death.
Whitaker was arrested at the scene on the day of the incident and was later released following a preliminary hearing. The second-degree murder charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison when a firearm is involved. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 8, 2027.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Gibbons and Michael Roberts. Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in announcing the verdict.
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