Washington, D.C. – In a harrowing case in Washington, D.C., a 37-year-old man, identified as I. Fall, will spend decades in federal prison after he ambushed and killed his ex-girlfriend shortly after their breakup in 2021, shooting her in the head as she tried to move forward with her life. Fall was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for the murder of D. Northern, authorities announced. Fall’s conviction and sentencing bring a tragic close to a devastating story of jealousy, violence, and lost hope.
Following a trial in January, a Superior Court jury found Fall guilty of first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Superior Court Judge R. Brandt handed down the sentence on Friday, ordering Fall to serve 50 years in a federal facility without the possibility of parole. Additionally, Fall must serve five years of supervised release once his prison term is complete. Prosecutors said Fall’s actions were deliberate and planned, robbing Northern of her life just as she was beginning a new chapter.
The incident occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 18, 2021, outside Northern’s home. Northern had arranged to spend a “night on the town” with her best friend to celebrate her recent breakup from Fall. Prosecutors explained that she was feeling “light and happy” after ending the troubled relationship. As Northern exited her home around 1:30 a.m. and approached her friend’s waiting car, she had no idea that Fall, who she had recently evicted from her home, was lurking nearby. According to prosecutors, Fall tried to intercept her on the sidewalk, but Northern ignored him and continued toward the vehicle.
“As Northern got into the front seat of her friend’s waiting vehicle, the defendant started reaching for his waistband,” a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia stated. “As Northern closed the door, the defendant shot her in the head as she sat next to her best friend and fled the scene.” Northern suffered a gunshot wound to her right eye. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors declared her brain-dead. She was pronounced dead later that same day.
Authorities said Fall had taken deliberate steps to conceal his actions. He allegedly disabled the security cameras at Northern’s home before the shooting. However, Fall was caught fleeing the scene by neighboring security cameras. Northern’s best friend later told investigators that Fall muttered something derogatory “about gay s—” just before shooting, possibly referencing Northern’s friendships with members of the LGBTQ+ community. Prosecutors suggested Fall’s hatred, jealousy, and resentment fueled his final violent act.
Fall fled the scene immediately after the shooting but was captured by authorities two weeks later. He remained jailed while awaiting trial. Fall faced the possibility of a life sentence but ultimately received 50 years, a punishment reflecting the premeditated cruelty of his crime. Prosecutors argued that Fall’s actions destroyed not just Northern’s life but also the lives of her grieving family and friends.
At trial, the prosecution emphasized how Fall lay in wait to ruin the “perfect day” Northern had planned to celebrate her freedom from him. “She never saw it coming,” they said during opening statements, highlighting the sudden and shocking nature of the attack. Northern’s loved ones continue to mourn a vibrant woman who was finally beginning to reclaim her happiness when her life was cut short by senseless violence. Now, with Fall sentenced, justice has been served, but it comes far too late for Northern — a woman who, on what should have been a joyful night, met a tragic and heartbreaking end at the hands of a man she once trusted.
