20-year-old Dakari Thomas was sentenced last week in connection with a fatal stabbing on Ellsworth Drive in 2021.
According to the county’s State’s Attorney’s Office, Thomas was sentenced to 25 years in prison with all but 12 suspended, plus five years of supervised probation. He was recommended to be a part of the Patuxent Youthful Offenders program while incarcerated.
In July, Thomas pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for stabbing and killing Getro Marius Benamna.
Thomas and Benamna began a drug transaction in the 900 block of Ellsworth Drive on Tuesday, December 7, 2021. After Thomas attempted to pass off a substance as marijuana, the two men got into a physical altercation, and Thomas stabbed Benamna with a knife.
When 3rd District officers arrived, they located Thomas, who suffered laceration wounds to his hand and arm. Thomas also had a knife in his possession. During the investigation, he stated that he had been involved in an altercation with another male who fled the scene.
Benamna was found in the 8400 block of Fenton St. with stab wounds to his chest. He was transported to an area hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to Montgomery County Police.
Following the initial investigation, detectives from the Silver Spring Investigative Section obtained an arrest warrant charging Thomas with First-Degree Assault. Upon Benamna’s death, the charges were changed to first-degree murder.
After Thomas tried to run from a police cruiser before being transported to the Central Processing Unit, he was also charged with one count of attempted escape.
“Once again, this was a situation where a fight over marijuana led to the loss of a young life in our community,” State’s Attorney John McCarthy said in a statement. “The State requested an executed sentence of 25 years, but we respect the Judge’s decision in this matter. Our hearts remain with the family of Getro Benamna.”
Photo Courtesy of the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office