Jury Retires To Deliberate In A Murder Case 

By Alesar Harfoush [former] - March 21, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On March 20, the defendant took the stand before the defense rested their case to convince the jury that he acted in self-defense.

Twenty three-year-old Shaka Haltiwanger is charged with second-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence while armed, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device while armed, and carrying a pistol without a license outside a home or business in connection with the shooting of Anthony Kelly, 39. The incident took place in an apartment building on the 1400 block of 29th Street, SE. 

On Monday, Haltiwanger testified in front of the jury about the day he shot Kelly. According to his testimony, he used to sell drugs to Kelly’s father regularly. The night before the shooting he came to the father’s apartment, sold him drugs and spent the night, which, he said, was what he usually did.

According to the defendant, in the morning, Kelly woke him up with a gun to his head asking him to leave the apartment. He stated that the victim was drunk and thought that Haltiwanger  was not moving fast enough, which led Kelly to throw him out of the apartment even after Kelly’s father tried to calm him down. 

When defense attorney Wole Falodun asked him what happened after he left the apartment, the defendant said the victim followed him down the hallway into the staircase yelling and threatening to kill him, saying “I am going to drag your ass”. 

The defendant then said the victim grabbed him by his jacket, which was wrapped around his waist and that’s when the defendant unzipped his backpack, took his gun out  and shot Kelly without even turning around. 

“It was him or me and I just saved my life,” the defendant said. 

During cross-examination, the prosecution asked the defendant about a phone call he had with his sister while in jail. On the call, the defendant told his sister that he needed a good lawyer because he did not believe the one he had was on his side.. 

The prosecution played a portion of the clip in which the sister is heard asking, “if you were scared and you did it?

In the same clip, Haltiwanger is heard answering with “that is not the case.”

The  prosecution used the clip to show Haltiwanger was not scared when he shot the victim. 

After the testimony, the prosecution delivered their closing statement, asking the jury for the only fair verdict — a guilty verdict. 

The prosecution stated that self-defense has no place in this case, saying the only reason it was brought up is because there is nothing else to claim. The defendant shot the victim as he was walking away from him trying to leave the building, the prosecution continued.  

According to the prosecution, an eyewitness testified that she saw Haltiwanger shoot Kelly as he walked away. The prosecution also showed the jury the murder weapon, saying  such a huge gun is not for self-defense. 

The defense’s closing statement started with telling the jury that the prosecution is only relying on eyewitness testimony that has been inconsistent. The witness’s testimony was different every time she was asked about the incident, and the prosecution picked the one that helped their case.  

Falodun ended his argument by pushing the self-defense angle. He was defending himself because he was scared for his life, Falodun said.  

DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt gave the jury their final instructions before they were dismissed. 

Jury deliberation is scheduled to begin on March 21.