“On behalf of Mr. Chapman, I ask that your last two words be not guilty,” a homicide defendant’s attorney told the jury in DC Superior Court Judge Todd Edelman’s courtroom on June 17.
Daniel Chapman, 37, is charged with second-degree murder while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon outside a home or business for his alleged involvement in the stabbing of 43-year-old Antoine Ealey. The incident occurred on July 22, 2023, on the 2300 block of L’Enfant Square, SE.
According to court documents, Chapman claimed he was acting in self-defense against Ealey, who allegedly threatened him in an alley. The risk was heightened in that Ealey was said to be using PCP and K2, a synthetic cannabinoid made to mimic the effects of marijuans. PCP has linked to outbursts of violent behavior.
Prosecutors claimed Chapman was the aggressor in the incident. “Self defense is not a license to pursue trouble,” they said. They say Chapman was hanging out with three friends in an alley near his apartment when Ealey approached the group. They argued that “Ealey was the outsider,” since the group appears to be arguing and kicking him. Ealey eventually collected his bags and walked away, but Chapman followed him, knife in hand, fatally stabbing him four times.
The prosecution claimed that Chapman’s choice to follow Ealey as well as his choice to flee the scene without calling EMT or police suggested Chapman was not acting in self defense.
“Chapman was the architect of his own peril” the prosecution declared.
In the defense’s closing argument, David Knight stressed that Chapman is not guilty from viewing the security footage of the group interactions during the incident. Knight further claimed that because of Ealey’s being under the influence of PCP and K2, he was acting erratically and dangerously unpredictable.
Knight asked the jury to recall the defendant’s previous testimony about his own relationship with Ealey before the incident. “He didn’t want him to die, he didn’t expect him to die,” Knight said.
“On behalf of Mr. Chapman, I ask that your last two words be not guilty,” Knight said.
Parties will reconvene once the jury reaches a verdict.
