D.C. man convicted of murder in shooting that began with argument over grill

A Washington, D.C. man has been convicted of murder for shooting and killing a neighbor during an argument that began over a grill in an apartment hallway, according to prosecutors.

Irv Duff, 35, was found guilty Tuesday in D.C. Superior Court of second-degree murder while armed and other charges in the death of 26-year-old Darnell Gibson, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

The shooting happened on the evening of August 1, 2023, in Southwest D.C., after Duff and his girlfriend got into an argument in the stairwell of her walk-up apartment building. Prosecutors said Duff threw a grill that was sitting in the hallway and belonged to Gibson.

Gibson came out of his apartment and began arguing with Duff about the grill. As Duff’s girlfriend went back inside her apartment, the two men continued arguing and Duff challenged Gibson to go outside to fight.

Duff then went to his vehicle parked on the street and called his girlfriend to warn her there was about to be a shootout, according to evidence presented by prosecutors. Gibson walked outside, followed closely by his girlfriend, who stood behind him near the entrance of the building.

Prosecutors said Duff and Gibson were at least 60 feet apart when Duff pulled out a pistol and fired 22 rounds toward Gibson and his girlfriend. The woman dropped to the ground and was not hit.

Gibson tried to run away but was shot three times in the upper torso from behind and died at the scene, prosecutors said. Duff then fled in his vehicle.

Duff was convicted of second-degree murder while armed, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

“This was a brazen and senseless act of violence that stole a young man’s life and endangered others,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said. “This tragedy is especially troubling because it began with something as trivial as an argument over a grill.”

Duff was arrested on December 8, 2023, and has been in custody since. Sentencing is scheduled for September 11.