Charles Rucker, 25, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon in the fatal shooting of 3-year-old Honesty Cheadle last summer. The shooting occurred in the early morning of July 5, 2025, when Rucker allegedly fired several shots into a family vehicle parked near the Capitol, striking the child in the head.

According to the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia, surveillance footage showed Rucker leaving his nearby residence on L Street SE, crossing into the street, and discharging the firearm into the back of the car where Cheadle and three relatives, including her father Larry Cheadle, were seated. Honesty Cheadle was the only person injured. Following the gunfire, her father carried her into their aunt’s apartment located three flights up on 14th Street SE, while others contacted emergency medical services.

The child succumbed to her injuries two days after the shooting, months before she was due to start prekindergarten.

The incident drew national attention when then-President Donald Trump cited the case during an August 2025 White House news conference, declaring a crime emergency in Washington, D.C., and deploying National Guard troops to the city. Trump described the shooting as indicative of worsening lawlessness.

Surveillance video recorded Rucker again minutes after the shooting, prior to police arrival, aiding investigators in his identification and arrest. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Rucker faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison. The case underscores ongoing concerns about gun violence and public safety in the nation’s capital.