Lead Detective Testifies in Homicide Case

By Alayna Stein [former] - March 29, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A lead detective in a homicide case testified about evidence linking 25-year-old Demonte Gibson to the crime during a March 27 preliminary hearing before DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt.

Gibson is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting 34-year-old Delonte King. The incident occurred on the 2800 block of 14th Street, NW on Nov. 3, 2021. According to court documents, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers discovered two victims on the scene, both with gunshot wounds. The first victim survived, but King was pronounced dead on Nov. 5, 2021, when he succumbed to his injuries from the attack. 

The detective explained how surveillance videos from the surrounding area aided in his investigation, as well as the execution of a search warrant at Gibson’s apartment.  

Although there was no video of the actual shooting, footage does show three possible suspects fleeing the scene following the sound of gunshots. 

The detective said one suspect in the video was wearing a ski mask and light wash jeans, similar to the clothing that MPD recovered from Gibson’s apartment. 

He also said Gibson identified himself, saying “that’s me,” when seeing a still image retrieved from a surveillance camera.

Defense attorneys Kevann Gardner and Rachel Cicural noted the original warrant used the same surveillance footage for someone other than Gibson. 

Gardner argued against the reliability of the surveillance footage, stating that “these videos will show whatever the [prosecution] wants them to show.”

He also noted that, although the clothing seized from Gibson’s apartment and the clothing seen in the surveillance footage are similar, this doesn’t mean that they are an exact match. 

“Jeans are not unique,” he said. 

Judge Brandt said she needs to re-examine the evidence before making a ruling about admissibility. 

The next hearing was scheduled on March 29.