A jury has found a Maryland man guilty of shooting his ex-girlfriend at Mount Vernon’s Mallard Court Apartments.
Collins Agyei, 29, of Prince George’s County was convicted of malicious wounding and using a firearm in the commission of a felony for allegedly shooting his ex-girlfriend six times on Feb. 7, 2023, the Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office confirmed Tuesday (Dec. 17).
Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano announced Wednesday (Dec. 18) that the jury recommended a sentence of 23 years in prison — 20 years for malicious wounding and three for the firearms charge — and a $100,000 fine.
“This devastating assault has permanently changed the trajectory of the victim’s life,” Descano said. “… I hope today’s outcome, and the fact that the defendant is going to be out of the community for over two decades, will provide some measure of comfort for the victim, her son, and their family.”
The jury’s sentence is the maximum that can be imposed by the court. A judge will rule on a final sentencing on April 25, 2025.
During closing arguments in the case on Monday (Dec. 16), Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Jennifer Reinkober painted a picture of Agyei wanting 28-year-old Esther Arko dead, telling the Fairfax County Circuit Court jury that he “hunted her down.”
At that point, Agyjei and Arko had been in a relationship for five years, and they had a son together, according to Descano’s office.
Surveillance footage shown in court detailed Arko returning to the apartments after dropping their son off at a school bus stop and encountering a man that prosecutors said was Agyei.
Additional footage showed the man brandishing a firearm once the two entered the apartment building, leading to a physical dispute. Gunshots could then be heard, as well as Arko screaming as she attempted to flee.
Officers responding to 8402 Blankenship Street later encountered Arko, nearly unconscious and bloodied, on a neighbor’s patio. Arko was heard muttering the name “Collins” multiple times, leading police to believe that Arko was outing her assailant.
Arko did not respond, however, when asked by police whether her “son’s father did this to you,” according to defense attorney Andy Elders.
Elders argued that Arko, who was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, couldn’t accurately answer the questions posed to her by law enforcement due to her dazed condition.
Instead, Arko was thinking about the safety of her son, Collins Agyei Jr., who she had just dropped off at the bus stop, Elders contended, claiming that law enforcement “ignored anything that was inconvenient to their view.”
Elders also questioned why the Commonwealth didn’t admit the contents of Agyei’s phone and various test results into evidence.
According to Elders, Agyei’s fibers would’ve appeared on Arko’s sweater due to the physical struggle. But despite the sweater being in the possession of the Fairfax County Police Department, no results of any tests done on the items have been presented in court.
“That’s proof, that’s evidence,” Elders said. “Not the supposition and guesswork you got from the Commonwealth in closing.”
Agyei was initially charged with aggravated malicious wounding, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. But after prosecutors failed to disclose information related to the impact of Arko’s medical condition on her ability to testify, Judge Randy I. Bellows granted a motion last Wednesday (Dec. 11) to lower the charge.
The downgraded malicious wounding charge carried a possible sentence of five to 20 years of incarceration.
“We regret that a communication mistake has resulted in the judge’s decision,” Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office spokesperson Laura Birnbaum said. “The defendant still faces multiple felony charges and the possibility of decades in prison, and we maintain our belief in the strength of this case.”
