Life Term in Shooting That Killed Unintended Victim in Home

A Lanham man who took part in a 2007 drive-by shooting in which a stray bullet killed a woman in her Prince George's County home was sentenced yesterday to life in prison plus 20 years.

At the county courthouse in Upper Marlboro, Circuit Court Judge Maureen Lamasney told Robert W. Francis that there was no justification for his conduct.

"It's hard to imagine an event that was more senseless than this event," Lamasney said. "This is probably the nightmare of every citizen in Prince George's County."

Francis declined an opportunity to speak in open court.

In October, a jury found Francis, 20, guilty of involuntary manslaughter, attempted murder and other offenses in the attack on the afternoon of March 16, 2007. The jury acquitted him of first- and second-degree murder.

The stray bullet struck Theodora Summers, 40, a hotel restaurant hostess, in the head in her home in the 6700 block of 96th Avenue in Lanham. She died instantly.

According to testimony at his trial, Francis and another young man, Robert T. Stamp, known as "Ruger," were firing from a moving car at an admitted marijuana dealer with whom they were clashing. The dealer, Dexter DeLeon, was wounded, and his pit bull, Domino, was killed.

In court yesterday, relatives and friends of Summers told Lamasney how deeply they have been affected by the slaying. Some spoke of their disappointment that the jury acquitted Francis of murder and urged Lamasney to hand down a strong sentence.

"I am asking the court to do what the jury failed to do: Deliver justice," said A. Mercedes Vessels, who said she and Summers were as close as sisters.

Minnie Gardner, Summer's mother, said of Francis: "I don't know if he feels sorry. I hope and pray he understands what he's done."

Gardner, 70, said she was pleased with Francis's sentence. "He's got time to think about what he's done," she said.

State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, who tried the case with Assistant State's Attorney Dorothy Engel, said he also was pleased with the outcome. Ivey said county jail inmates charged with serious crimes pay close attention to prison sentences meted out by judges.

"It's a strong-enough sentence to send a strong message," Ivey said.

Stamp, 22, of the 9900 block of Good Luck Road, is serving a sentence of life without parole. He pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and agreed to testify against Francis in exchange for a sentence that would have allowed for the possibility of parole. But Stamp reneged on the deal when he took the witness stand.