D.C. resident Rasdavid Lagarde, 28, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of 22-year-old student Omar Sykes.

On July 4, 2013, Sykes lost his life at the hand of Lagarde. When Sykes and a classmate were walking back to campus from watching fireworks at the National Mall, police report Lagarde along with an accomplice robbed the students. Largarde and another young man assaulted them, throwing them to the ground. Sources report that in an effort to pistol whip Sykes, Lagarde actually ended up firing a single bullet, killing Sykes.

Acting Attorney Vincent H. Cohen says “Omar Sykes was a rising senior at Howard with a passion for serving others and a world of promise…His murder impoverishes our entire community…This prison sentence ensure that Omar Syke’s killer will spend decades behind bars for his embrace of senseless violence.”

Rasdavid Lagarde is sentenced to 28 1/2 years behind bars. He will be 56-years-old when released. Our condolences go out to the family of Omar Sykes.