Bullet Casing Evidence Questioned In A Jury Trial

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During witness testimony Oct. 2 parties clashed on bullet casing location with the defense questioning if the evidence pertains to the shooting.

Dennis Chase, 31, is charged with first-degree murder while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm while armed, for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 30-year-old Anthony Orr. The incident occurred on Dec. 7, 2020, on the 400 block of Xenia Street, SE.

Chase allegedly shot Orr and drove to Maryland where he attempted to hide and burn the suspected vehicle on private property. Eyewitness testimony proved Chase tried to break into a house in Maryland and hid evidence in their shed.

A police officer previously testified that Chase was taken into custody in Maryland due to two outstanding warrants.

Testimony was heard from a forensic scientist who collected the physical evidence from the shooting – including glass debris, the bullet and its fragments, suspected blood, and bullet casings. Imaging of the crime scene was also presented to the jury.

During the cross-examination, defense attorney Julie Swaney questioned the witness regarding a bullet casing, which was found across the street from all the other evidence in the intersection of the crime.

Swaney argued that the casing was likely not a part of this crime scene because it was located across the street from the crime scene and was not squished by a vehicle.

This is plausible especially as the murder weapon was never recovered, Swaney said.

After the shooting, Chase allegedly drove the car into the woods in Maryland.

A police officer, who was the first to report the vehicle, also testified in court. The prosecutors displayed photographic evidence of the vehicle in the woods.

The officer testified that when he located the vehicle, he ran the plate and found it was owned by a rental car company. In communication with them, he found that it was rented by Chase in the days leading to the shooting. Nothing valuable was found inside the vehicle.

After Chase abandoned the car, the officer testified, he allegedly trespassed onto private property.

A 911 phone call was played for the jury of the homeowner reporting Chase. The homeowner said Chase exhibited erratic behavior– walking without purpose and dancing in the cold.

The homeowner later called investigators a couple of days later when he found Chase’s belongings on his property.

Parties are set to reconvene on Oct. 7.