Judge Denies Release for Homicide Defendant After Seeing TikTok that ‘Appears to be a Confession’

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DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman denied release for a homicide defendant after prosecutors played a TikTok video that the Judge stated “appears to be a confession” during a hearing on March 4.

Shaun Brown, 24, is charged with first-degree murder premeditated while armed, eight counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, four counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault knowingly while armed, assault with intent to kill, and assault with intent to kill against a minor while armed. The charges stem from his alleged involvement in the fatal mass shooting of 47-year-old Dametrics Evans and injuring six additional victims on the 4900 block of G Street, SE on Oct. 25, 2021.

Prosecutors dismissed the case on June 27, 2022 but a grand jury indicted Brown on Jan. 29 after the discovery of new evidence.

During the hearing, the prosecution motioned for pretrial detention and played a clip from a TikTok live video that allegedly includes Brown’s confession. An anonymous user commented “you kill my mom and send a request” to which Brown responds “They closed the case, couldn’t find more evidence,” he is said to add, “I felt bad, my target wasn’t her.”

Brown’s attorney, Marnitta King, argued the video is “not the smoking gun the [prosecution] thinks it is” and her client is “being baited to say this” in the clip. She argued the prosecution presented a clip that is out of the context of the 20 minute video. King requested Brown’s release with GPS monitoring, arguing he is not a threat to the community because he relocated to North Carolina and is employed.

Judge Edelman ruled to hold Brown without bond, he acknowledged Brown’s time in the community without violent acts and his current employment, but noted the grand jury’s finding of probable cause to issue an indictment. The judge had not seen the entire video but questioned how the clip was out of context if Brown said the words in question.

The next hearing is scheduled for April 18.