DC man found guilty of killing best friend, faces life in prison

WASHINGTON — A D.C. man could spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murder of his best friend.

A Superior Court jury has found Eugene Burns, 32, guilty of first-degree murder while armed and related firearm offenses in the tragic death of his best friend, Onyekachi Emmanuel Osuchukwu III. The verdict was announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, nearly 10 years after the initial crime took place. 

The jury reached its decision after a five-week trial, finishing on Oct. 24. In addition to first-degree murder, Burns was convicted of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and carrying a pistol without a license. His co-defendant, Tyre Allen, 24, also from Washington, D.C., was found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of justice, with the jury concluding their trial just days later, on Oct. 28.

Investigators say on November 14, 2015, Burns lured Osuchukwu to his mother’s apartment in the 2900 block of 2nd Street Southeast. Once inside, he shot his friend four times, killing him. Burns attempted to cover up the crime, leaving the apartment only to return the next day with family members, falsely claiming to police that they had just discovered Osuchukwu's body.

Investigators say Burns had been plotting the murder for several days.

Burns’s journey through the legal system has been tumultuous. In 2017, he was initially convicted of murder, but his conviction was overturned on appeal in 2020. After this reversal, Burns and Allen conspired to obstruct justice by influencing a witness to recant prior incriminating testimony. They pressured the witness to sign a false affidavit in October 2020, further complicating the case.

The jury found both men guilty of conspiracy to obstruct justice and corruptly persuading a witness, marking a significant moment in the pursuit of justice for Osuchukwu and his family.

Sentencing is scheduled for both Burns and Allen for January 31, 2025. Burns faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, while Allen could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years.