47°
In addition to the murder charge, Jasper Spires was also indicted on charges involving the robberies of two other passengers and an assault of a fourth victim on the subway train, according to U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips.
Spires faces a maximum of life in prison if convicted.
According to the government’s evidence, on July 4, 2015, at about 12:50 p.m., Spires was among people on a Metrorail train approaching the NOMA/Gallaudet University station, in the 200 block of Florida Avenue NE.
While on the train, Spires is accused of attempting to rob Kevin Sutherland, 24, and repeatedly and fatally stabbing him. He also is charged with robbing two others on the train, including a senior citizen, and assaulting a fourth passenger.
After the attacks, Spires walked off the train and left the station. He was arrested on July 6, 2015, and has been in custody ever since.
Spires was indicted May 10 by a grand jury in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on charges of first-degree murder while armed (premeditated and felony murder), with aggravating circumstances; assault with a dangerous weapon; armed robbery of a senior citizen; armed robbery, and carrying a weapon outside a home or business. He was arraigned on May 13.
At the time of the alleged offenses, Spires was on release in a pending assault case in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Sutherland, who was born in Bridgeport, was a 2009 graduate of Trumbull High School.
He earned his bachelor's degree in political science and communications in 2013 at American University. Sutherland was elected to two terms as secretary of student government and touched the community so deeply that the university flags were flown at half-staff to honor his memory.
While in college, he worked as an intern for U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, both in his campaign and congressional offices. Sutherland also volunteered for the White House Office of Presidential Correspondence.
Sutherland, who lived in Washington, D.C., was employed at New Blue Interactive in Washington as a digital strategist.
His parents, Doug and Theresa Sutherland, said their son loved living in Washington, D.C., where he especially enjoyed taking pictures in his new hometown.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Trumbull-Monroe and receive free news updates.
