Thank you for reading D.C. Witness.
Help us continue our mission into 2025 by donating to our end of year campaign.
By
Cameron Horne
- November 25, 2024
Daily Stories
|
Homicides
|
Robbery
|
Suspects
|
Victims
|
DC Superior Court Judge Rainey Brandt found probable cause and ruled against releasing two murder defendants in what she called “one of the most senseless homicides” the court has seen in recent memory. The findings came during a Nov. 22 hearing.
Rayon Davis, 18, and Quintin Reed, 17, are each charged with first-degree murder for their alleged involvement in the December 20, 2023 fatal shooting of 39 year-old Dwayne Barbour on the 2900 block of Knox Place SE.
Reed and Davis, who was 17 at the time of the incident, are charged as an adult under Title 16.
According to court documents Davis, Reed and one other subject, all affiliated with the “On the Clock” gang, allegedly planned to rob Barbour of his Rolex watch in the hallway of Davis’ apartment building. During the robbery, one of the perpetrators fired a weapon, fatally injuring Barbour. After the incident, the unknown subject can be seen on social media posting photos wearing a watch nearly identical to Barbour’s.
During the hearing, which was a continuation of a Nov. 8 hearing, Judge Brandt ruled that there was sufficient evidence to find probable cause for each defendant and heard arguments whether either defendant should be released.
Megan Allburn, on behalf of Davis, argued that Davis was 17 at the time of the murder, and that Davis’ mother had since moved out of DC which is where Davis would live should he be released.
Allburn also alerted the court that Davis had become a father while in jail and had yet to meet his son due to his confinement. Allburn claimed that Davis should be afforded the ability to “provide what he did not have,” citing that Davis’ father passed when Davis was an infant.
The prosecution’s opposition to releasing Davis cited the severity of Davis’ actions, stating that they “can’t think of many fact patterns that are possibly worse,” and added that Davis would pose a danger to witnesses in this case since most were known to both defendants.
Regarding Reed, Daniel Dorsey argued that Reed only had one test left to earn his GED and that Reed had been completely compliant with officers when he was arrested.
The prosecution, again, cited the danger Reed would pose to witnesses, especially since Reed would be living in the same neighborhood if released.
Ultimately Judge Brandt ruled to continue detaining both defendants.
Parties are slated to reconvene May 16, 2025.