Vongell Lugo, above, was stabbed to dying in his Washington D.C. condo by Collin Potter in January 2019. Potter pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide and was sentenced to 16 years in jail. (Photograph through his obituary)
A Navy sailor who pleaded responsible to a second-degree homicide cost for stabbing a person 42 instances was sentenced to 16 years in jail on Friday, in response to the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace District of Columbia.
Collin Potter, 30, of Virginia, stabbed Vongell Lugo to dying in Lugo’s condo within the Higher Northwest neighborhood of Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6, 2019, prosecutors mentioned.
Prosecutors mentioned Potter and Lugo, 36, met earlier within the night time at a bar and went again to Lugo’s condo. They have been alone when Potter, unprovoked, grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed and reduce Lugo 42 instances within the head, neck and torso, prosecutors mentioned. Lugo yelled for assist and awoke two neighbors who referred to as 911 round 4:14 a.m. About six minutes later, Potter pulled Lugo’s bare physique out of the condo and into the hallway.
“[Metropolitan Police Department] officers found Lugo’s physique and the defendant, who was standing bare, unhurt, and lined in Lugo’s blood,” a press launch mentioned.
Police arrested Potter and he’s been in custody ever since. Potter pleaded responsible in February to second-degree homicide whereas armed.
On the sentencing listening to, Potter mentioned he was sorry, however acknowledged an apology can be inadequate and that he deserved jail, the Washington Submit reported.
Potter’s legal professional mentioned his shopper’s historical past of childhood trauma, psychological sickness and alcohol abuse led to the assault, the Submit reported.
A number of of Lugo’s household and mates testified on his behalf on the sentencing listening to.
“There are not any phrases to explain my feeling at present,” Lugo’s mom, Victoria Lugo, informed the choose, in response to the Submit. “Neither the dictionary nor Google have any phrases. My coronary heart hurts. My son’s life was taken for a egocentric motive. No mom ought to must undergo this.”
Lugo was born in Trinidad and Tobago and immigrated to America in 1994, his obituary mentioned. After graduating highschool in 2000, he attended the College of Maryland the place he earned a bachelor’s diploma in sociology, the obit mentioned.
He labored in retail administration and as an government recruiter.
“He was a faithful fan of the Redskins with a complicated sense of favor in each style and meals – his curry was described with reverence,” the obit mentioned.
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