Deadly Arson Spree in Northeast Yields 25 Years in Prison for D.C. Man
WASHINGTON / Friday, October 23, 2026 – D’Aundrey Scott, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to 25 years in prison for charges related to a spree of arsons, one of which killed of 62-year-old Darryl Finney, in May 2020, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
“D’Aundrey Scott deliberately set two men on fire in the middle of the night, killing Darryl Finney in an act of horrific violence," said U.S. Attorney Pirro. "His actions were cruel, calculated, and utterly unconscionable. Now, he will spend the next 25 years behind prison walls, answering for his crimes.”
Scott pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon, arson, and felony destruction of property, on August 14, 2026, before D.C. Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman. In addition to the 25-year prison sentence, Judge Edelman ordered Scott to serve five years of supervised release.
According to court documents, at approximately 12:23 a.m., on May 13, 2020, Scott went on an arson spree. He first approached an adult male who was lying on the sidewalk in the 1300 block of H Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant ignited a small, flammable object and threw that burning object onto the man who kicked the object off, avoiding injury. Then at approximately 1:04 a.m., Scott approached a second male, Darryl Finney, who was sleeping on the sidewalk in the 900 block of H Street Northeast, Washington, D.C. The defendant ignited a small, flammable object and tossed it onto Mr. Finney. The defendant then splashed an ignitable liquid onto Mr. Finney, causing Mr. Finney and his personal effects to catch fire. Mr. Finney, who was engulfed in flames, managed to get up and walk toward H Street, where the Metropolitan Police Department and D.C. Fire and EMS responded to assist. The victim suffered second and third degree burns to multiple parts of his body and despite treatment at a local hospital, he died due to his injuries on May 15, 2020.
Scott was arrested on May 19, 2020, and has been in custody since.
Joining the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Pirro and Interim Chief Carroll commended the work of those who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department. They also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Ganjei, who prosecuted the case.
2020 CF1 004775
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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia
