Two Carjacking Co-Defendants in a Conspiracy Case Waive DNA Evidence Testing

By Richa Sharma [former] - August 6, 2024
Carjacking | Daily Stories | Suspects |

Two of five co-defendants in a carjacking conspiracy case waived their right to independently test DNA evidence before DC Superior Court Judge Robert Okun on Aug. 5.

Byron Gillum, 19, Jaelen Jordan, 19, Isaiah Flowers, 19, Jahkai Goff, 19, and Irshaad Ellis-Bey, 18, are charged with two counts of armed carjacking, armed carjacking of a senior citizen, trafficking stolen property, four counts of unauthorized use of a vehicle, receiving stolen property of $1,000 or more, six counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, two counts of robbery while armed, robbery of a senior citizen while armed and conspiracy.

The charges stem from their alleged involvement in an ongoing distribution of carjacked vehicles between April and May of 2023. The group is believed to have partially conducted its operation out of an apartment parking garage on the 1300 block of Florida Avenue, NE.

The prosecution read the results of their DNA testing from numerous items recovered from the vehicles and residence on Florida Avenue, NE. The results showed it was more likely the items contained Jordan’s DNA over Gillum’s.

Gillum’s defense attorney, Daniel Dorsey, and Jordan’s defense attorney, Brian McDaniel, alerted the court of their intent to waive their right to independent DNA testing. 

Flowers, Goff, and Ellis-Bey will indicate their decision on independent DNA testing at a later date. 

Additionally, parties agreed on a new tentative trial date of Oct. 14, 2025, due to the case being transferred to Judge Okun just three days before this hearing. The judge has an estimated three-month trial at the beginning of February, which conflicted with the prior trial date for the five of March 31, 2025. 

Parties will reconvene on Aug. 19.