Man Convicted of Shooting Stepfather 19 Times

The Upper Marlboro man convicted of gunning down his stepfather—a DC police detective—after an argument over yard work, was convicted Tuesday of involuntary manslaughter.

Antwan Rayvon James was charged with first-degree murder, which carried a possible life sentence if found guilty. NBC Washington reports James was convicted of the lesser manslaughter charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years, the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office said.

Rayvon James, of the 6700 block of Green Moss Drive, shot Joseph Burrough Newell outside their Upper Marlboro home Monday on April 22, 2013.

Prince George’s County Police say James, then 27, reportedly shot his stepfather over a dispute about yard work. Joseph Burrough Newell, an officer in Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department, was shot 19 times in the dispute, authorities said.

After Newell collapsed, James fired four more shots at him, the victim’s wife, and James’ mother, Bernadette Newell, testified.

“It’s as simple and as tragic as that,” said Kevin Davis, then an assistant police chief, the day of the shooting.

After the shooting, James fled on foot with the weapon in hand. The gun used was not Newell’s police service weapon, according to police.

James will be sentenced Nov. 19.

»Patch file photo of Antwan James, courtesy of Prince George’s County Police