Defense Motions for Severance in Five Defendant Homicide Case

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Defense attorneys in a five defendant homicide case called for a motion to sever one defendant from the case in order to stay on schedule during a hearing on Jan. 31 with DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan.

Derricko Johnson, 20, Ronald Henderson, 19, and Daveon Robinson, 17, Dionzai Parker, 21, and Demarco Robinson, 20, are charged with 14 counts of assault with the intent to kill while armed 19 counts of possession of a firearm during crime of violence, six counts of carrying a pistol without a license, and five counts of conspiracy.

Henderson, Johnson, and Parker are also charged with premeditated first-degree murder while armed. Johnson is additionally charged with fleeing law enforcement while released. Parker is also charged with two counts of carrying a rifle or shotgun outside a home or business.

Johnson, Henderson, Parker, Daveon and Demarco’s charges stem from their alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 32-year-old Clayton Marshall on April 12, 2022, the fatal shooting of 16-year-old Justin Johnson on May 26, 2022, and 37-year-old Brice Djembissi on Feb. 25, 2023. All incidents occurred on the 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE

During the hearing, attorneys Karen Minor representing Dionzai Parker, Kevann Gardner representing Derricko Jonhson, Nathaniel Mensah representing Henderson, Elizabeth Weller representing Daveon, and Wole Falodun representing Demarco, called for a severance motion to remove Demarco from the co-defendant case – citing Wole Falodun, Demarco’s attorney’s scheduling issues with the previously scheduled trial, which is slated to begin Aug. 18.

The prosecution questioned whether the cause was sufficient to warrant severance. Despite this, the defense is to file severance motions by Feb. 27, with prosecution response by March 27.

Parties are slated to reconvene on March 14.