Jury Finds Man Guilty of 2021 Murder and Robbery Attempt

WASHINGTON - Michael Sanders, 32, of Washington, D.C., was found guilty yesterday in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, on charges related to the shooting death of 30-year-old Youness Zarouaki, during an attempted robbery in February 2021 in Northwest, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

Sanders was found guilty of first-degree felony murder while armed, conspiracy to commit robbery while armed, attempted robbery while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence before Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan. A sentencing date will be scheduled on a later date. The jury was unable to reach a verdict regarding co-defendant Darnell Resper, 33 (2024 CF1 003740).

According to the government's evidence, on February 18, 2021, at approximately 3:13 p.m., 1060 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW, served as a location for marijuana parties. These parties were advertised on Instagram and by word of mouth. Surveillance footage captured a black Honda Accord driving in the area. A third co-defendant had driven the two men to the location for the marijuana pop-up shop. Shortly after entering the pop-up shop, one of the defendants ordered a security guard to the ground at gunpoint and the other suspect brandished his firearm and demanded that the occupants of the house give him "the stuff," i.e., drugs and cash. Gunshots rang out and both Sanders and Resper fled the area: one jumped over the backyard rear fence, and another ran back out the front entry gate on Thomas Jefferson Street. Surveillance footage captured an individual identified as Michael Sanders fleeing the area but did not capture Darnell Resper.

MPD officers were called to the scene for the report of a shooting. Upon arriving, they located Mr. Youness Zarouaki, on the sidewalk in front of the building, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the neck. Mr. Zarouaki succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead approximately 30 minutes later. 

Sanders was arrested on September 14, 2023. Resper was arrested on April 22, 2024. Both defendants have 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 Natalie Hynum and Lauren Miller.

2023 CF1 006587