Driver in 2020 murder sentenced to 8 years in prison

A Waldorf man was sentenced to 8 years in prison for his role in the 2020 shooting death of a teenager.

On March 7, the Charles state’s attorney’s office announced that Tyliek Anthony Spence, 22, was sentenced to life in prison with all but 8 years suspended for the murder of 17-year-old Daniel McClellan-Givens. Upon release, Spence will be on supervised probation for five years.

Spence pleaded guilty to the charge on Nov. 16, 2022, and is the second to be sentenced in the case.

During sentencing, Circuit Court Judge Carrington Martin told Spence that the victim “may have been into drugs, but he was only 17 years old, and you already outlived him.”

On Nov. 3, 2020, Charles sheriff’s officers responded to an apartment building located in Amber Leaf Place for the report of a person being shot.

Upon arrival, officers located McClellan-Givens suffering from several gunshot wounds to his lower body. The teenager was transported by helicopter to Washington Hospital Center but later died.

Witnesses at the scene of the incident reported seeing an altercation between McClellan-Givens and a suspect in a blue 2014 Hyundai Sonata passenger car, leading up to the killing.

The suspect who shot the victim, later identified as co-defendant Anthony Edward Small, was observed entering the front passenger seat of the car before fleeing the area.

Small was sentenced on Feb. 16 to life in prison with all but 50 years suspended.

After the incident, Spence spoke to investigators and reported that he was the driver of the fleeing car. Spence told investigators that he arranged to purchase marijuana from the victim before the shooting.

Soon after Spence and Small arrived they robbed McClellan-Givens, followed by the teenager getting shot by Small.

During the investigation, investigators were able to recover a fingerprint on the passenger side of Spence’s car, which was found to be left by Small.

Additionally, Small’s cellphone records placed him in the area during the time of the incident. He was also seen in photographs wearing clothing that matched Spence’s description.

An examination of Small’s cellphone was conducted. Photographs were observed of Small and the victim’s handgun covered with blood. In a text exchange, Small confessed to his girlfriend about the murder.