Jury Finds D.C. Man Guilty of Murder After Argument Over a BBQ Grill

WASHINGTON - Irv Duff, 35, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, on charges of shooting and killing 26-year-old Darnell Gibson, in Southwest D.C., on August 1, 2023, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Duff was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder while armed, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On June 23, 2026, Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan scheduled sentencing for September 11, 2026.

"This was a brazen and senseless act of violence that stole a young man's life and endangered others," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "This tragedy is especially troubling because it began with something as trivial as an argument over a grill. Our community deserves far better, and my office remains committed to pursuing accountability and ensuring that those who choose violence are held fully responsible under the law."

According to the government's evidence, on the evening of August 1, 2023, Duff and his girlfriend got into a verbal dispute in the stairwell of the girlfriend's walk-up apartment. During the argument, the defendant threw a grill sitting in the hallway that belonged to the victim, Darnell Gibson. The victim came out of his apartment and started arguing with Duff about him knocking over the grill. As the defendant's girlfriend retreated into her apartment, the defendant and the victim continued to argue. Duff challenged the victim to come outside to fight, which the victim agreed to do. As the victim got ready to go outside, Duff retreated to his vehicle parked in the street and called his girlfriend to warn her there was about to be a shootout. The victim then walked outside, followed closely by the victim's girlfriend, who stood behind him near the entrance of the building. The victim and Duff remained separated by at least 60 feet while they hurled insults at one another. Moments later, Duff took out a pistol and unleashed 22 rounds of automatic gunfire toward the victim and his girlfriend. The victim's girlfriend dropped to the ground and narrowly avoided being hit by the hail of bullets. The victim tried to run away, but he was cut down by three shots to his upper torso, all from behind, killing him instantly. Duff then fled the scene in his vehicle.

Duff was arrested on December 8, 2023, and has been in custody since.

Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.

This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Joshua Hall and Wes Faulkner.

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