Stephen Herring, a 26-year-old resident of Southeast Washington, D.C., has pleaded guilty to the stabbing death of Marcus Thurman in August 2023. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Herring entered his plea on November 7, 2025, in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of second-degree murder while armed. Sentencing is set for January 30, 2026, before Judge Dayna Dayson.
According to government evidence, at around 5:10 a.m. on August 22, 2023, police responded to a call about a stabbing outside 140 M Street NE. Officers found Marcus Thurman unconscious with a stab wound to his upper chest. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures and CPR before transporting him to Washington Hospital Center. Thurman died from his injuries on September 4, 2023.
Surveillance video showed Herring stabbing Thurman, and multiple eyewitnesses provided statements at the scene. Herring was arrested later that day for assault with intent to kill while armed; charges were upgraded to second-degree murder after Thurman’s death.
Further investigation revealed that earlier on the day of the incident, Herring had been involved in an altercation with a female witness and physically assaulted her. Marcus Thurman intervened in an attempt to protect her; she was accompanied by her infant son in a stroller nearby. According to surveillance footage and witness accounts, Herring left but soon returned armed with a knife and stabbed Thurman in the heart before fleeing.
A D.C. Superior Court Grand Jury indicted Herring for first-degree premeditated murder and carrying a dangerous weapon on May 5, 2024; he was arraigned on June 10, 2024. He has remained in custody since his arrest on August 22, 2023.
Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department joined U.S. Attorney Pirro in making the announcement. The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nebiyu Feleke.
“This matter occurred on date indicated but not published at that time due to government shutdown. Press release posted and made available following the return to normal operations.”
