Francis Deonte Rose was sentenced today to 58 years in prison for the 2022 shooting deaths of two construction workers in the West End.
A jury found Rose guilty in May of killing Adrian Dejesus Rivera Guzman, 48, and his stepson, 24-year-old Juan Carlos Anaya Hernandez, on the morning of July 16, 2022 in the northern section of the former Assembly Alexandria apartment complex in the 200 block of Century Place.
The 29-year-old Rose was found guilty of two counts of aggravated murder, two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony and unlawful entry.
Circuit Court Judge James C. Clark sentenced Rose 50 years for two counts of second degree murder and eight years for two counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony. A 12-month sentence for unlawful entry was suspended.
Rose will be eligible for parole after 58 years, after which he will be on probation for five years. By that time, he will be 87 years old. He was also ordered to never contact the family of the victims upon his release.
Police were called to the apartment complex for a burglary call for service, which escalated when Rose shot the victims — both construction workers on a water break. Rose first got into a fight with Guzman, shot him in the head, and then engaged in a desperate struggle with Hernandez, who raced to the scene. Rose shot and killed Hernandez.
Rose was arrested after breaking into an apartment in the complex. He was found by a Fairfax County K-9 officer hiding stark naked under a bed.
Laura Hernandez said that her family has suffered since the death of her husband and son, and that Rose stole her desire to continue living. She said that she and her family have had to live in a shelter since the tragedy.
“He (Rose) took everything from us,” Hernandez said. “The way to survive, the way to have shelter, the way to eat.”
Rose apologized to the family of the victims before his sentencing.
“I’m not a bad person,” Rose said. “I didn’t mean to take your family’s life. I’m so sorry for your loss. If they allow me to send you money while I’m incarcerated, I’ll starve in prison to better y’alls situation.”
Rose was released from jail in Arlington just three months before the incident occurred. He was indicted on weapons and drug charges and was in prison from Oct. 18, 2020 until Feb. 23, 2022, but was freed when the court determined that police conducted an illegal search prior to his arrest, according to ARLnow.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter wanted a life sentence for Rose.
“First, my thoughts are with the victim’s family, whose loved ones can never be brought back no matter what occurred today in court,” Porter said. “While I understand the court has a difficult duty in pronouncing sentence in a murder case, the Commonwealth is disappointed the defendant did not receive an active life sentence. Considering the defendant’s potential for rehabilitation is but one factor that should be weighed by the court, another is the defendant’s extreme and unprovoked violence upon kind, innocent people. In my opinion, his depredations surely merited life in prison.”
