Judge Revokes Release Status for Double Murder Suspect

By D.C. Witness Staff - May 17, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Maribeth Raffinan revoked Amarii Fontanelle’s release status in a May 17 hearing following reports he’d recently been arrested in Upper Marlboro, Md. and also faces a fugitive warrant in Prince George’s County, Md.

In the District of Columbia, Fontanelle, 20, is charged with first-degree murder while armed for allegedly shooting 19-year-old Reginald Lamont Cooper, Jr. and 19-year-old Davonte Berkley on Oct. 17, 2022 on the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE. He is also accused of shooting a third victim, who ultimately survived. 

“These are very serious charges,” said Judge Raffinan, specifically referring to the Prince George’s case during which Fontanelle allegedly fired shots into a home with six people inside who were allegedly disputing a marijuana sale.   All three cases against Fontanelle are gun-related.

The prosecutor in the DC case says Fontanelle’s behavior has been “extremely dangerous” and said he should be detained. 

Fontantelle’s attorney, Kevin Mosley, argued that his client had done exceptionally well since his release, and is within a month of earning his GED while working two jobs.  Mosley also said that if Fontanelle were released it would enable him to address his pending Maryland legal issues.

Mosley said it was “extremely unlikely” the Prince George’s case would ever go to trial since it was already more than two-and-a-half years old.  

Still, Judge Raffinan said, “These are fairly significant cases.”

She set a status hearing in the DC case for Aug. 28 and said the trial would begin on Oct. 7, 2024.