Judge Calls Evidence a, ‘Well Put Together Puzzle,’ During Preliminary Hearing 

By Adrianna Bhan [former] - July 18, 2024
Carjacking | Non-Fatal Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

On July 17, DC Superior Court Judge Heidi Herrmann found probable cause during an armed carjacking defendant’s preliminary hearing. 

Lamontee Fowler, 21, is charged with three counts of armed carjacking and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence for his alleged involvement in three carjackings. The incidents occurred on April 27 on the 4400 Block of Texas Avenue, SE, May 2 on the 4500 Block of Texas Avenue, SE and  May 8 on the 4300 Block of G Street, SE. 

He is also charged in connection to a non-fatal shooting that occurred on May 10 on the 4400 block of B Street, SE. 

According to court documents, on April 27, Fowler is alleged to have fired two shots at a man, then demanded his car keys and money. However, the victim had no money but gave the suspect his car keys. The suspect then got into the car and drove away. No injuries were reported. 

Likewise, on May 2, an individual, identified as Fowler, pointed a gun at a victim and demanded the car keys, the victim handed over the keys and Fowler fled the scene. No shots were fired. 

On May 3, a license plate reader pinged the stolen vehicle from the day before. According to court documents the vehicle was seen pulling into a Giant grocery store lot and security footage was able to capture an image of an individual, identified as Fowler, driving the car and going into the store.  

As per court documents, an individual, identified as Fowler, brandished a handgun and demanded a victim’s keys, before fleeing the scene in the victim’s vehicle.

On May 10 police responded to a single shot fired on 4400 Block of B Street SE, no injuries were reported. According to court documents a witness identified the shooter as Fowler and a shell casing recovered matched with the two shell casings found during the first carjacking. The witness told police that Fowler allegedly fled the scene but left behind a car, the vehicle had been stolen on May 8. 

During the hearing a detective from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) identified Fowler in court as the individual who was arrested in connection to all the incidents. 

The witness then shared that on May 24, police issued a search warrant for Fowler’s home and at the door his grandmother gave a positive identification of Fowler from the Giant security camera footage. 

According to the detective, during the search they allegedly found a loaded firearm in Fowler’s room along with credit cards in other people’s names, cell phones and multiple car keys. He testified that the firearm found in Fowler’s room was consistent with the three shell casings that had been recovered. 

During the cross examination, Fowler’s defense attorney, Hannah Akintoye, asked the witness about the description each victim gave, the first victim stated that Flower was a “Six feet, black male, medium complexion and thin build” and the second described a “black male, 17-18 years of age and thin build.” The witness could not recall what the third victim’s description was.

Akintoye then asked about the footage that was used for the photo identification of Fowler taken from the Giant security footage. The detective said that the footage was clear enough to make out Fowler’s “build, clothing and hairstyle,” but that “from the vantage point you can’t make out any clear distinctions.” 

According to his testimony, the footage revealed Fowler was wearing a long sleeve Nike shirt, shorts, his hair in an afro and black glasses. 

When asked about the vehicle recovered on May 10, the witness stated that there was no tangible identification of Fowler in the vehicle.  The witness also confirmed that none of the cell phones, credit cards or keys found in Fowler’s room belonged to any of the victims. 

Akintoye wanted to know how the detective knew he was in Fowler’s room, he responded “his belongings were in there.” Akintoye asked if Fowler’s belongings were anywhere else in the house and witnesses stated that they were. 

Akintoye argued that Fowler’svbeing in the room during the time of the search and some belongings being in there could not reasonably assure that the room or firearm belonged to him. 

Akintoye asked Judge Herrman not to find probable cause, arguing that though “[Fowler] is a black male,” the descriptions of the suspect provided were all too vague. 

“Maybe [probable cause for] possession of a firearm but that requires it to be outside the home or business,” Akintoye acknowledged, adding that there was “nothing specific other than the fact that he was in the bedroom,” for the detective to link him to it.

The prosecuting attorney argued that there is a “generally consistent description,” of Fowler and that he was identified by a witness on May 10. 

Judge Herrmann found probable cause in the case, stating that the evidence presented was “quite a well put together puzzle,” and strong. 

Parties are slated to return on July 30.