Charles Rucker, 25, pleaded guilty Thursday, Oct. 1, to first-degree murder in the shooting death of a 3-year-old girl in Southeast Washington.

Rucker entered his plea before D.C. Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt, accepting one count of first-degree murder while armed and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. The plea agreement calls for 35 years in prison. Judge Brandt scheduled sentencing for Monday, Dec. 14.

The shooting happened in the early morning hours of July 5, 2025, after the toddler and her family returned from several Independence Day cookouts and fireworks celebrations in Southeast Washington. The family parked their vehicle in the 1000 block of 14th Street SE. Rucker walked into the area and fired several shots at the parked car, which held the child and three family members.

The girl was the only person hit. She was struck in the head and rushed to Children's National Hospital, where she died two days later on July 7, 2025.

Surveillance video captured at least six muzzle flashes from the gun Rucker used, WUSA9 reported, citing court documents. After the shooting, Rucker ran into a nearby apartment building, then returned to the scene. Police believe he was trying to collect spent cartridge casings. Investigators found only one .40-caliber round.

A D.C. Housing Authority officer identified Rucker on the surveillance footage. Police announced him as a person of interest and offered a $50,000 reward before arresting him on July 12, 2025, according to WJLA. He has been in custody since.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement that Rucker fired on a family's car with complete disregard for human life. Interim Metropolitan Police Department Chief Jeffery Carroll joined Pirro in announcing the plea. The department's Homicide Major Case Section investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emma McArthur and Stephanie Dinan are prosecuting.

The child's mother, Shaunita Ellerbe, spoke to WJLA shortly after Rucker's arrest in July 2025. "My heart has just been lost, broken," Ellerbe said. "No one should ever lose a baby or even a child."