Cigarette by Barbara K.

A 28-year-old D.C. man was sentenced to 23 years in prison today for stabbing and choking a man to death over a cigarette in a Northeast park.

Mark Coates pleaded guilty in July of this year to second-degree murder while armed. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, Coates and an accomplice attacked 56-year-old Leroy Studevant in Marvin Gaye Park in late 2011.

During the assault, Mr. Studevant managed to escape, and he ran across the park. However, Coates and the accomplice chased Mr. Studevant through the park, until Coates ultimately cut off Mr. Studevant’s flight path. Using a knife, Coates and his accomplice then stabbed Mr. Studevant. After forcing Mr. Studevant to the ground, Coates and his accomplice kicked him, and Coates was able to unhook and remove Mr. Studevant’s belt from around his waist. The belt was placed around Mr. Studevant’s neck as a noose, and he was choked with the belt until he no longer resisted. During the altercation, a wallet and cell phone were removed from Mr. Studevant’s pockets. Coates and his accomplice split the money in the wallet.

An autopsy determined that Mr. Studevant died as a result of the strangling and assault in
the park. The reason for the attack was because the victim would not share his cigarettes.