Judge Finds Probable Cause in Stabbing Initiated by A Victim

By Alex Garcia Pecina - November 28, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein found probable cause for second-degree murder in a stabbing case triggered by one of the victims. The ruling came in a on Nov. 25 hearing.

Shaneka Jackson, 41, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for her alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Gray Hall on Sept. 1 on the 900 block of Division Avenue, NE. One additional individual was injured. 

The prosecution called an officer to testify about the investigation and video footage of the stabbing.

The video showed an altercation between Jackson and Hall’s girlfriend, Jackson’s boyfriend and Hall then got into a fight. Jackson allegedly grabbed a knife to defend herself, and when the argument escalated, she allegedly stabbed Hall while he was struggling with Jackson’s boyfriend.

Joseph Yarbough, Jackson’s attorney, established that the instigator was Hall’s girlfriend. According to the video footage –which the officer narrated– the girlfriend initially walked towards Jackson with balled up fists before engaging in an altercation.

“Can a person kill another without a weapon?” Yarbough asked the officer. He explained that there was evidence showing that Jackson’s boyfriend was in danger while grappling with Hall and Jackson could have believed he was in danger. Yarbough argued that the charge should be dismissed or should at least be dropped down to voluntary manslaughter.

The prosecution argued that there was no evidence suggesting that Jackson believed her boyfriend to be in danger for his life. He further explained that there was zero evidence that Hall was strangling or trying to kill the boyfriend.

Judge Epstein agreed that while an aggressor was a victim, when people engage in a fight, using deadly force in response is unacceptable. He found probable cause for second-degree murder.

Parties are slated to reconvene on Aug. 8, 2025.