Stepson Charged In D.C. Detective's Slaying

As D.C. police detective Joseph Newell Jr. stood outside his garage on a stepladder, screwing in a light bulb, his adult stepson came up from behind. Antwan James fired one bullet into his stepfather's back and then stood over him and fired several more.

D.C. police detective Joseph Newell Jr. never saw it coming. As he stood outside his garage on a stepladder, screwing in a light bulb, his adult stepson came up from behind, police said. Antwan James fired one bullet into his stepfather's back and then—after the detective fell—stood over him and fired several more, police said.

"It was an execution," said Prince George's County Assistant Police Chief Kevin Davis.

On Tuesday—hours before James, 27, turned himself in to police—authorities said the motive was as "senseless" as they come. James's stepfather—a well-liked police officer who had spent more than 20 years on the force—had asked him for help with yardwork at their Upper Marlboro home. And James "didn't like it."

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