Murder Indictment Will Be Secured by March, Prosecution Says

By D.C. Witness Staff - January 23, 2019
Court | Homicides | Policy | Suspects |

On Jan. 22, a prosecutor agreed to an indictment deadline in a murder case. 

Eric Smith is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 38-year-old Rondell Wills on the 200 block of 50th Street, NE in 2018. According to court documents, Wills, who was shot in the neck, was not the intended target.

The prosecutor said that an indictment could be secured by March 22.

According to Title 23 of the Code of the District of Columbia, the prosecution has nine months from the date the defendant was arrested to obtain a grand jury indictment. If they fail to obtain an indictment, the case could be dismissed.

During the hearing, defense attorney Blase Kearney requested an Instagram photo of a key witness in the case. The witness, who identified Smith, 19, as the shooter, was allegedly the original target but managed to escape unharmed. The witness, whose identity has not been revealed, is currently charged with an unrelated gun offense.

The prosecutor said the defense could have the photo as long as the witness was given a protective order.

The prosecutor also agreed to hand over any results on DNA testing. However, the prosecutor said the materials, which were not disclosed, had not been tested.

Smith is scheduled for a felony status conference on March 29.