DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan found probable cause that a defendant was the getaway driver in a double homicide incident during a hearing on March 6.
Andre Greene, 25, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Lamont Street and 50-year-old Jermaine Proctor, which occurred on July 18, 2024 at the Alabama Convenience Store on the 2200 block of Alabama Avenue SE. A two-year-old also sustained injuries during the incident.
Judge Ryan found probable cause for second-degree murder while armed following a detective’s testimony during hearings on Feb. 21 and Feb. 28.
During the hearing, prosecutors asked Judge Ryan to find probable cause for first-degree murder while armed as an aider and abetter, which means the individual helped another commit a crime. Prosecutors claimed that Greene, who they argue was the getaway driver in the incident, was “the means by which [the suspects] were originally able to evade law enforcement.”
According to the prosecution, on the day of the incident, Greene, who was employed by Hertz in Alexandria at the time, had someone clock in for him at 9:40 a. m., was seen in Hertz’s parking lot making a u-turn at 9:55 a. m., and left three minutes later towards the Henson Ridge apartments – located on the 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, where he allegedly picked up the four shooting suspects.
Prosecutors also claimed Greene, who owned a blue Dodge Charger, allegedly drove the four suspects to the homicide vehicle, which was identified as a white car. They also said evidence shows Greene parked his vehicle across the street from the shooting incident and trailed the shooting vehicle to the location where it was discarded on the 1500 block of Congress Place, SE.
Prosecutors stated after dropping off the suspects, Greene allegedly returned to Hertz, where he quickly left after the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) issued a be on the lookout (BOLO) for his Dodge Charger. The prosecution said Greene drove the vehicle to College Park, Maryland, where he burned it.
The prosecutor argued that Greene showed consciousness of guilt by burning the vehicle, and by telling a friend who messaged him asking what he was doing with the car to unsend the message. According to the prosecution, Greene also received messages asking if he needed a lawyer or if there was a warrant out for his arrest, to which he allegedly replied he had already spoken with an attorney.
Prosecutors insisted they have evidence that Greene is involved with the Get Back Gang (GBG) which is allegedly associated with Henson Ridge. “This is a part of a consistent effort from people from Henson Ridge to attack Alabama Avenue,” the prosecutor said.
“You have overwhelming evidence at this point,” the prosecutor claimed, adding “this is a classic getaway driver scenario.”
“The whole purpose of shooting a rifle in the direction of a crowd in broad daylight is with the intent to kill,” the prosecution stated, “there’s back and forth between the two neighborhoods.”
Shawn Sukumar, Greene’s attorney, insisted Greene was not a shooter and was not with the shooters at the time of the homicides. He argued that the prosecution needs to prove what Greene knew before, during and after the shooting to prove he was an aider and abetter.
“These are people who grew up and live in the same neighborhood,” Sukumar said about the group in Henson Ridge, adding that the prosecution has no evidence that Greene intended to aid and abet the suspects.
He argued Greene could not have known he was driving the suspects to a vehicle – “there’s nothing on the car that showed Greene the white car would be used in a homicide.”
As for Greene’s alleged presence a block away from the shooting, Sukumar questioned “does he actually know who’s doing the shooting and who’s being shot at? He wasn’t in a position to see.”
“He reacts in a way out of fear, not out of consciousness of guilt,” Sukumar said about Greene allegedly burning his vehicle, requesting Judge Ryan not find probable cause.
“This is a very interesting case because there’s an awful lot going on,” Judge Ryan stated, adding “the result of these actions are quite horrible – the death of two people and the injury of an innocent child.”
Judge Ryan claimed there were “careful and apparently strategic movements” by Greene caught on surveillance cameras, stating “so much of this is on camera that it doesn’t take much to infer.”
He said Greene was “clearly within ear shot, especially with the number of bullets fired,” at the scene, adding the group had a “coordination that is implicative of the intent to do the shooting.”
However, Judge Ryan said Greene’s premeditation and deliberation were not clear, so he could only find probable cause for second-degree murder while armed.
Elizabeth Paige White, Greene’s attorney, requested he be released on home confinement and GPS monitoring pending further proceedings, arguing he lacks a significant role in the offense.
She requested Judge Ryan release Greene to live with his sister in Maryland in order to work a remote job and be able to raise his two kids.
The prosecution opposed the request, stating Greene has three convictions for carrying a pistol without a license, for which he was sentenced under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA), which allows a defendant’s convictions to be sealed if they successfully complete all sentencing requirements.
However, the prosecution told Judge Ryan, DC Superior Court Judge James Crowell recently revoked the sentences under the YRA.
The prosecutor added that Greene allegedly had three guns stashed in his couch, which were recovered during a search warrant, and hid ammunition in his daughter’s Minnie Mouse lunchbox.
“This is an overwhelmingly strong case that will just continue to get stronger,” the prosecution stated.
Proctor’s family wrote a statement to Judge Ryan saying, “we believe Mr. Greene should remain in custody until the court decides his fate,” which was agreed to by Street’s family.
Judge Ryan denied the request for release, stating Greene poses a danger to the community, adding there is “very significant evidence which documents his movements meticulously in a very well thought out plan.”
Parties are set to reconvene Sept. 5.
