College Football Player Kills Nursing Student On Campus, Convicted of Murder

A former University of Alabama Birmingham football player has pleaded guilty to killing a nursing student in 2020.

On Monday, Carlos Londarrius Stephens of Alabaster pleaded guilty to murdering Destiny Washington, 20, of Trussville, in December 2020.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison by the jury and judge.

Police said, “We believe after investigating, Washington and a friend had arranged to meet Stephens to sell him a set of AirPods for $100. During their meet-up, she was fatally shot inside of a vehicle while in a parking lot outside of the university’s student center.”

Washington was taken to the hospital by private vehicle where she was later pronounced deceased.

Stephens pleaded guilty to a lesser charge on Monday after a previous conviction was vacated in July and a judge ordered a new trial.

In April, when he was originally tried, a jury found him guilty of capital murder.

A judge vacated the verdict and sentence because of juror misconduct.

Washington was a nursing student who was completing classes at Lawson State Community College through a joint admission program with the University of Alabama Birmingham when she was killed.

“Destiny was one of those students that always tried to help out,” said Melanie Gaines, who taught Washington at Clay-Chalkville High School. “She is one of those that always stayed with you.”

Another staff member at the school, Principal Michael Lee, told AL.com: “The thing I remember most about Destiny was her smile. She was a sweet, sweet soul.”

In high school, the student-athlete played basketball and volleyball, and was a member of the National Honor Society, the staff members said.

“We love all of our students,” Lee said, “but she was one of those special ones.”